BIOGRAPHICAL,    SKETCH 


AND    SERVICES 


OF 


COMMODORE 


'CHARLES   STEWART, 


OF*  THE 


NAVY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


I1        LADKLIMJIA. 

PR  I  N  T  K  D     R  Y      J  .     HARDING. 


1838 


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BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCH, 


u 


AND  SERVICES 


COMMODORE  CHARLES  STEWART, 


NAVY  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

PRINTED     BY     J.     HARDING 

1838 


.•«•*: 


INTRODUCTION. 


PENNSYLVANIA  may  justly  claim  the  honor  of  having  contributed  as 
largely  to  the  proud  list  of  American  philosophers,  statesmen  and  heroes, 
as  any  other  State  in  the  Union ;  and  yet,  in  consequence  of  the  pecu- 
liarly unostentatious  and  unpretending  character  of  her  people,  she  has 
hitherto  forborne  to  assume  the  rank,  or  lay  claim  to  the  honor,  to  which 
the  merits  and  services  of  her  sons  justly  entitle  her.  Reposing  on  the 
justice  of  this  claim,  and  upon  the  concession  that  she  is  the  "keystone" 
of  the  federal  arch,  and  that  her  honest,  industrious  and  patriotic  yeo- 
manry are  unrivalled  in  all  the  attributes  that  render  a  State  greatf 
prosperous  and  happy,  she  has  never  singled  out  from  the  constellation 
of  her  sons,  for  especial  commendations,  the  "bright  and  shining"  stars 
with  which  that  constellation  is  adorned. 

What  a  galaxy  of  glory  is  concentrated  in  the  names  of  Franklin,* 
Rittenhouse,  Rush,  Fulton,  Morris,  M'Kean,  Wayne,  Brown,  Decatur, 
James  Biddle,  and  Stewart!  How  proudly  do  we  point  to  this  array  of 
illustrious  citizens!  The  world  will  perceive  in  this  list  the  genius  who 
snatched  the  lightning  from  the  skies ;  the  man  who  went  deep  into  the 
mysteries  of  creation,  and 

"Looked  through  nature  up  to  nature's  God;" 

and  he  who,  with  a  skill  which  has  rendered  him  immortal,  encountered 
death  at  the  sick  man's  bed,  and  stayed  his  uplifted  arm:  and  he  who, 
by  a  certain  modification  of  machinery,  the  result  of  his  own  all-con- 
quering genius,  has  filled  the  waters  with  steamboats,  and  created  a 
new  agent  in  the  application  of  steam  power;  he  who  rescued  the  coun- 
try from  impending  bankruptcy,  in  the  period  of  the  Revolution ;  and ' 
he  who  rivalled  the  Cokes  and  Mansfields  of  England,  and  brought 
order,  harmony  and  effect  out  of  the  confusion  of  the  law ;  and  he  who 
was  the  hero  of  Stony  Point,  the  hero  of  Fort  Erie,  and  the  conqueror 
of  the  Macedonian — the  conqueror  of  the  Penguin,  and  the  conqueror 
of  the  Cyane  and  Levant,  were  all  PENNSYLVANIANS.  We  are  well 
aware  that  the  fame  of  these  men  belongs  to  the  State,  and  that  the 

*  Though  born  in  Boston,  Pennsylvania  was  the  theatre  of  his  glory. 


374790 


IV 

humblest  of  its  citizens  inherits  a  portion  of  their  renown.  The  policy 
of  Pennsylvania  has  been  to  appeal,  not  to  her  great  men,  but  to  her 
free  institutions — her  peaceful  and  prosperous  people — to  her  stupen- 
dous public  improvements,  and  her  agricultural,  and  almost  boundless 
mineral  wealth,  for  the  evidences  of  her  lofty  and  merited  rank  and 
power  in  the  Union.  For  herself,  as  a  State,  she  has  claimed  much, 
and  it  has  all  been  cheerfully  accorded — yet  she  has  been  slow  in  forc- 
ing the  claims  of  her  distinguished  sons,  forgetting  the  beautiful  example 
of  the  Roman  mother,  who,  when  asked  for  her  jewels,  proudly  point- 
ed to  her  children. 

The  writer  of  this  sketch  has  deemed  these  observations  due,  not 
only  to  Pennsylvania,  but  to  himself,  and  to  the  subject  of  this  biogra- 
phy. In  presenting  to  the  public  a  brief  sketch  of  the  life  of  Commo- 
dore Charles  Stewart^  it  is  but  simple  justice  to  him  to  trace  to  the 
unobtrusive  character  of  his  native  State,  that  apparent  indifference  to 
his  history  which  has  suffered  a  long  life  of  faithful  services,  amidst  the 
toils  and  perils  of  the  sea,  and  of  battles,  to  remain  so  long  unwritten. 
We  cannot  doubt  that  the  following  hasty  notices  of  the  life  of  this  dis- 
tinguished son  of  Pennsylvania,  which  are  designed  to  supply  this  de- 
ficiency, will  be  an  acceptable  offering  to  our  fellow  citizens,  not  of 
Pennsylvania  only,  but  of  the  Union.  The  facts  detailed  belong  to  his- 
tory, and  the  only  objects  aimed  at,  in  their  publication,  is  to  dissemi- 
nate truth,  and  perform  an  act  of  justice  to  a  meritorious  and  successful 
vindicator  of  the  rights  of  our  common  country,  and  a  distinguished 
contributor  to  her  renown* — For, 

"  Thro'  fire  and  smoke,  and  wind  and  wave, 
On  every  sea  Britannia  call'd  her  own," 

he  has  for  forty  years,  gallantly  and  triumphantly  borne  the  flag  of  his 
country. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH,  &c. 


THE  position  of  Commodore  CHARLES  STEWART  has  been,  for  many 
years,  one  of  great  distinction.  His  name  and  services  are  associated 
with  many  leading  events  in  which  the  glory  of  his  country,  and  his 
own  fame,  are  blended.  To  find  materials  for  a  brief  memoir  of  this 
distinguished  citizen,  we  have  had  recourse  to  biographical  sketches  of 
his  compatriots ;  to  official  documents,  and  to  history.  It  is  not  our 
purpose  to  enter  into  a  minute  biographical  detail  of  Commodore  Ste- 
wart's eventful  life,  but  to  give  to  his  fellow-citizens  a  summary  of  his 
public  services. 

Charles  Stewart  was  born  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  on  the  twenty- 
eighth  of  July,  1778,  the  month  after  the  British  army  evacuated  the  city. 
His  parents  were  natives  of  Ireland.  It  was  his  misfortune  to  lose  his 
father  before  he  had  attained  his  second  year.  He  was  the  youngest  of 
eight  children.  On  the  death  of  his  father,  his  mother  was  left,  in  the 
midst  of  the  Revolution,  with  four  children  to  provide  for,  and  with 
limited  means  for  their  support  and  education.  Being  a  woman  of  talents 
and  great  energy,  she  was  not  found  wanting  in  this  arduous  task. 

At  the  age  of  thirteen,  Charles  sought  and  found  employment  in  the 
merchant  service,  in  which  he  gradually  rose,  through  the  several  grades, 
from  the  situation  of  cabin  boy,  to  the  command  of  an  Indiaman;  and 
here,  in  the  full  tide  of  successful  mercantile  enterprise,  he  relinquished 
all  that  he  had  toiled  for,  and  offered  himself  to  the  service  of  his  coun- 
try. On  the  ninth  of  March,  1798,  he  was  commissioned  Lieutenant  in 
the  Navy  of  the  United  States,  and  received  orders  to  join  the  frigate 
United  States,  then  in  command  of  Commodore  John  Barry.  He  con- 
tinued in  this  ship  until  July,  1800.  Part  of  this  time  the  frigate  was 
employed  in  the  West  Indies,  to  look  after  and  restrain  the  French  pri- 
vateers, and  to  protect  our  commerce  against  their  depredations,  in 
which  service  she  was  eminently  successful.  In  the  latter  part  of  the 
year  the  frigate  was  engaged  in  transporting  the  commissioners  for 
treating  with  France  to  that  country,  and  was  thus  deprived  of  the 
opportunity  which,  under  other  circumstances,  might  have  led  to  other 
and  higher  honors. 

On  the  sixteenth  of  July,  1800,  Lieutenant  Stewart  was  appointed 
to  the  command  of  the  U.  S.  schooner  Experiment,  of  twelve  guns,  in 
which  he  sailed  on  a  cruise  to  the  West  Indies,  having  under  his  com- 
mand those  distinguished  officers,  Porter,  Caldwell,  and  Tripp.  Arriv- 


ing  on  (he  station  assigned  him,  he  fell  in  with,  on  the  night  of  Septem- 
ber the  first,  the  French  armed  schooner  Deux  Amis,  (Two  Friends,)  of 
eight  guns,  and  brought  her  to  action,  which  terminated  in  ten  minutes: 
the  Deux  Amis  having  struck  her  colors,  she  was  sent  to  the  United 
States  for  condemnation.  Being  short  of  water,  he  proceeded  to  Prince 
Rupert's  Bay,  in  the  Island  of  Dominica,  and  while  there,  watering  his 

vessel,  his  Britannic  Majesty's  ship ,  Captain  Nash,  accompanied 

by  his  Majesty's  ship  Siam,  Captain  Matson,  arrived,  and  anchored; 
soon  after  which,  Lieutenant  Stewart  received  a  letter  from  a  citizen 
of  the  United  States,  named  Amos  Seeley,  stating  that  he  had  been 
impressed  on  board  the  British  ship  Siam,  and  claiming  an  interference 
for  his  release.  Although  Lieutenant  Stewart's  power  was  inadequate 
to  enforce  his  demand  for  the  surrender  of  Seeley,  the  two  ships  mount- 
ing twenty  guns  each,  his  patriotic  heart  could  not  withstand  the  appeal 
of  his  countryman,  and,  prompted  by  that  chivalry  and  patriotism  which 
were  destined  to  blaze  out  in  after  life  so  gloriously,  he  resolved  on 
opening  a  correspondence  with  the  British  Captain  for  the  release  of 
Seeley.  A  polite  note  was  addressed  by  Lieutenant  Stewart,  to  the 
senior  officer,  conveying  the  request  that  Amos  Seeley  might  be  trans- 
ferred from  his  Majesty's  ship  Siam  to  the  schooner  under  his  command; 
that  he  might  be  restored  to  his  family  and  his  home.  The  British  cap- 
tain demurred,  but  in  answer  requested  a  personal  interview,  wherein 
he  remarked  to  Lieutenant  Stewart  that  the  war  in  which  his  Majesty 
was  engaged  was  arduous ;  that  the  difficulty  of  obtaining  men  for  his- 
numerous  fleets  and  ships  of  war  was  great,  and  that  he  should  encoun- 
ter great  hazard  of  being  censured  by  his  government  should  he  lessen 
his  force  by  yielding  up  his  men ;  urging,  moreover,  that  the  example 
would  be  injurious  to  the  service.  Lieutenant  Stewart  replied,  in  sub- 
stance, that  the  British  officers  had  too  long  trampled  on  the  rights  and 
liberties  of  his  countrymen,  and  it  was  high  time  they  had  learned  to 
respect  the  rights  and  persons  of  an  independent  nation;  that,  whatever 
power  his  Majesty  claimed  over  his  own  subjects,  he  had  no  right  to 
exercise  it  over  a  people  who  had  forced  him  to  acknowledge  their  in- 
dependence ;  that  to  resume  this  power  was  to  belie  his  own  solemn  act, 
and  practice  a  deception  on  the  world.  It  was  stated  in  answer,  that 
Seeley  was  impressed  in  England  as  an  Englishman ;  to  which,  Lieu- 
tenant Stewart  replied — ''Then  prove  him  so,  and  I  have  done ;  but  if 
you  cannot,  I  am  prepared  to  prove  him  a  citizen  of  the  United  States." 
Whereupon,  it  was  agreed  to  surrender  him;  and  Seeley  was  put  on 
board  the  schooner. 

The  Experiment,  having  obtained  her  supply  of  water,  left  the  Bay, 
and  continued  her  cruise  under  the  lee  of  Barbuda.  At  daylight  on  the 
thirtieth  of  September,  two  sails  were  discovered,  bearing  down  on  the 
Experiment,  with  all  sail  set,  and  English  colors  hoisted.  The  Experi- 
ment continued  laying  too,  with  the  British  signal  of  the  day  flying,  un- 
til they  approached  within  gun-shot,  when,  finding  one  to  be  a  brig  of 


war  of  eighteen  guns,  and  the  other  a  three-masted  schooner  of  fourteen 
guns,  and  that  they  would  not  answer  the  signal,  Lieutenant  Stewart 
determined  to  retreat  from  such  superior  force,  and  avail  himself  of  any 
Opportunity  that  might  offer  for  cutting  off  one  of  those  vessels.  It 
was  soon  discovered  that  the  Experiment  could  outsail  them,  and  after 
a  fruitless  chase  of  two  hours,  on  the  wind,  they  gave  up  pursuit,  hoist- 
ed French  colors,  fired  a  gun  of  defiance  to  windward,  and  kept  their 
vessels  off  before  the  wind.  He,  being  now  satisfied  of  their  character 
and  force,  manoeuvred  to  gain  their  wake  to  windward,  and  thus  became 
the  pursuing  vessel  in  his  turn.  Sail  was  crowded  on  the  Experiment 
and  at  about  eight  o'clock  at  night  she  came  up  with  the  three-masted 
schooner,  (then  the  sternmost  vessel,)  and  taking  a  position  on  her  lar- 
board quarter,  poured  in  a  broadside.  In  a  few  minutes,  the  three- 
masted  schooner  struck  her  colors,  and  surrendered  to  the  Experiment 
She  proved  to  be  the  French  national  schooner  Diana,  of  fourteen  guns, 
commanded  by  Captain  Perandeau ;  Lieutenant  de  Vaisseau,  with  a 
detachment  of  thirty  invalid  soldiers,  and  a  crew  of  sixty-five  men,  and 
General  Rigaud,  on  board,  on  his  way  to  France,  tinder  the  convoy  of 
the  brig  of  war,  which  made  her  escape,  and  got  into  Saint  Bartholo- 
mew. The  prize  was  despatched  to  the  United  States,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Lieutenant  James  R.  Caldwell,  and  was  restored  to  the  French 
under  an  article  of  the  treaty,  but  the  captors  were  never  compensated 
by  the  Government  for  this  vessel,  as  others  were  in  many  cases. 

After  disposing  of  the  prisoners  at  St.  Christopher,  Lieutenant  Stew- 
art continued  on  his  cruising  ground,  and  recaptured  a  number  of 
American  vessels  which  had  been  taken  by  the  French,  and  thus  res- 
cued a  considerable  amount  of  valuable  commerce  from  the  grasp  of 
their  privateers — amongst  which  was  the  brig  Zebra,  of  Baltimore,  cap- 
tured by  the  Flambeau  privateer,  of  sixteen  guns,  and  in  her  company 
at  the  time;  the  wind  was  so  light,  and  the  day  so  nearly  over  before  he 
could  approach,  that  he  could  only  cut  off  the  Zebra,  and  the  Flam- 
beau made  her  escape,  under  cover  of  the  night,  and  reached  Guada- 
knipe. 

On  the  sixteenth  of  November,  at  midnight,  he  fell  in  with  an  armed 
Tessel,  and  after  repeatedly  hailing  and  requesting  her  to  heave-to  that 
a  boat  might  board  her  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  her  character, 
and  receiving  no  answer  or  other  satisfaction,  he  determined  to  bring 
her  to  action,  and  try  his  force  to  compel  a  compliance.  The  vessel 
kept  up  a  running  fight  with  great  spirit  and  determination,  for  forty 
minutes,  when  she  became  so  cut  up  and  crippled  by  the  Experiment's 
fire,  that  she  was  obliged  to  strike  and  submit  to  be  boarded.  She 
proved  to  be  the  Louisa  Bridger,  of  Bermuda,  carrying  eight  nine- 
pounders,  with  a  stout  crew  of  Bermudians.  She  was  so  much  cut  up 
that  the  officers  and  crew  of  the  Experiment  were  occupied  until  three 
o'clock  next  day  in  repairing  her  damages ;  having  two  shot  through 
her  bottom,  she  was  almost  in  a  sinking  condition,  and  when  Lieuten- 


8 

ant  Porter  boarded  her,  was  found  to  have  four  feet  water  in  the  hold. 
After  putting  her  in  the  best  repair  that  circumstances  admitted,  Lieu- 
tenant Stewart  dismissed  her  on  her  cruise.  The  Experiment  had  only 
one  killed  (the  boatswain)  and  two  wounded  slightly.  The  wind,  dur- 
ing the  action,  was  strong  and  squally,  and  the  Experiment  careened  so 
much,  that  Lieutenant  Stewart,  to  enable  his  guns  to  be  sufficiently  de- 
pressed, found  it  necessary  to  cut  three  inch  planks  into  short  lengths, 
and  put  them  under  the  trucks  of  the  gun  carriages,  to  raise  the  guns 
sufficiently  from  the  lower  port  sills. 

On  the  return  of  the  Experiment  to  St.  Christopher,  Commodore 
Truxton  ordered  Lieutenant  Stewart  to  proceed  with  a  convoy  from 
Martinique  to  the  island  of  St.  Thomas,  and  thence  to  Curacoa,  to  look 
for  the  United  States  brig  Pickering,  and  frigate  Insurgent,  but  nothing 
could  be  heard  of  those  vessels  at  that  place;  they  had  both  foundered 
in  the  equinoxial  gale,  with  a  store  ship  under  their  care,  and  all  hands 
perished.  On  leaving  Curacoa,  the  Experiment  was  ordered  to  proceed 
to  Norfolk.  Standing  in  for  the  Mona  passage,  early  in  the  morning,  a 
vessel  was  discovered  in  distress,  and  beating  on  the  reef  off  Saona  Isl- 
and. On  nearing  her,  many  persons  were  discovered  to  be  on  board. 
After  anchoring  the  Experiment  at  a  safe  distance  from  the  reef,  he 
despatched  Lieutenant  Porter  with  the  boats  to  their  relief,  who,  with 
much  difficulty  and  danger  from  the  breakers  on  the  reef,  succeeded  in 
rescuing  from  destruction  about  sixty  women  and  children,  with  seven 
men  of  the  vessel's  crew.  They  were  the  families  of  the  most  respec- 
table inhabitants  of  St.  Domingo,  flying  from  the  siege  of  that  city  by 
the  blacks.  They  had  been  on  the  rocks  for  two  days,  without  any 
thing  to  eat  or  drink ;  and  at  the  time  of  their  rescue,  only  a  small 
portion  of  the  quarter  deck  was  above  water.  After  the  sailors  had 
recovered  as  much  of  the  property  as  they  could,  by  diving  into  the  ves- 
sel's hold,  the  Experiment  proceeded  to  the  city  of  St.  Domingo  with 
the  rescued  persons,  where  they  were  all  landed  the  next  day,  and  re- 
stored  to  their  friends.  Their  gratitude  was  unbounded,  and  the  Ex- 
periment was  most  liberally  finished,  gratis,  with  every  refreshment 
the  place  afforded.  The  President  of  St.  Domingo  wrote  a  letter  of 
thanks  to  the  President  of  the  United  States  (Mr.  Jefferson)  of  which 
the  following  is  a  copy. 

Translation  of  a  Letter  from  Don  Joaquin  Garcia,  Governor  of 
the  Spanish  part  of  St.  Domingo,  to  the  President  of  the  United 
States. 

SIR: — The  great  humanity  (the  offspring  of  a  magnanimous  breast) 
of  a  military  officer  of  the  United  States,  deserves  the  greatest  ap- 
plause and  consideration  from  me  and  my  whole  nation.  It  was  dis- 
played in  his  recent  conduct  towards  two  numerous  families  who  were 
removing  from  this  city  to  Porto  Rico,  and  composed  of  many  small  chil- 
dren and  ladies  of  quality. 


This  officer  is  Charles  Stewart,  Esq.,  captain  of  the  armed  schooner, 
Experiment,  who,  whilst  the  accidents  of  the  sea  threatened  to  over- 
whelm him,  observed  that  near  the  Island  of  Saona,  a  schooner,  with  a 
multitude  of  women  and  children,  cried  out  for  help  to  save  themselves 
from  becoming  the  unhappy  victims  of  the  tempest,  or  of  the  want  of 
nautical  skill  in  Captain  Christian  Graneman,  a  Dane,  who,  in  the  hard- 
ness of  his  heart,  strove  to  save  his  person  and  effects,  by  going  on  shore 
and  leaving  so  many  human  creatures  exposed  to  the  turbulence  of  the 
waves,  an  extremity  which  presented  to  them  a  near  prospect  of  death. 

This  brave  and  generous  officer,  his  crew,  and  all  under  his  com- 
mand, impelled  by  humanity,  alertly  strove  to  save  these  wretched  la- 
dies, and  succeeded.  A  few  moments  after  their  safety  was  accom- 
plished, the  schooner  sank.  Amid  thanks,  vows,  and  lamentations,  this 
worthy  officer  learnt  that  Captain  Christian  was  on  the  mountain  of 
Saona.  with  his  effects.  Without  neglecting  the  ladies,  he  endeavored 
to  secure  a  wretch,  who  ought  not  to  live  among  mankind.  This  he  ef- 
fected, and,  through  the  humanity  of  the  ladies,  used  no  greater  severi- 
ty towards  him  than  to  take  him  on  board  and  bring  him,  well  secured, 
to  this  capital.  He  treated  the  ladies  with  the  greatest  courtesy,  ac- 
commodating them  with  his  cabin,  his  table,  and  every  convenience. 

They  have  requested  me  to  communicate  these  circumstances  to  your 
Excellency,  and  that  in  their  names,  I  should  present  to  you  their  cor- 
dial thanks,  assuring  you  that  it  is  an  action  which  will  remain  forever 
impressed  on  their  hearts.  For  myself,  and  in  the  name  of  my  nation, 
and  of  all  who  know  of  the  occurrence,  worthy  of  so  cultivated  a  na- 
tion and  of  an  officer  of  the  United  States,  I  present  you  my  thanks 
with  that  sincerity  which  belongs  to  my  character ;  and  I  shall  have 
the  honor  to  render  an  account  of  it  to  my  master,  the  king  of  Spain, 
in  order  that  such  an  action  may  redound  to  the  honor  of  this  officer,  of 
his  flag,  and  of  all  his  brave  and  generous  crew. 

God  preserve  you  many  years. 

May  it  please  your  Excellency, 

JOAQUIN  GARCIA. 
Santa  Domingo,  Jan.  21,  1801. 

On  the  arrival  of  the  Experiment,  in  1801,  at  Norfolk,  she  was  sold 
out  of  the  service,  under  the  act  of  Congress  fixing  the  Naval  Es- 
tablishment. Lieutenant  Stewart  was  amongst  the  thirty-six  lieuten- 
ants retained  under  that  law,  and  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  frigate 
Chesapeake,  in  ordinary,  ,at  Norfolk.  In  the  following  year,  1802,  he 
joined  the  U.  S.  frigate  Constellation,  as  first  officer  of  Captain  Murray, 
who  was  ordered  to  the  Mediterranean  to  blockade  Tripoli,  then  at  war 
with  the  United  States.  This  was  a  short  cruise  of  one  year,  and  af- 
forded no  opportunity  for  the  ship  or  officers  to  distinguish  themselves. 
On  her  return  to  the  United  States,  Lieutenant  Stewart  was  placed  in 
command  of  the  brig  Siren,  then  being  built  at  Philadelphia,  and  re- 
2 


10 

ceived  orders  to  superintend  her.  Her  equipment  was  effected  in  seven 
days  after  she  was  launched,  when  she  sailed  for  the  Mediterranean  to 
join  the  command  of  Commodore  Preble.  She  was  engaged  giving  pro- 
tection to  our  commerce  by  convoy,  and  conveying  the  Consular  pre- 
sents to  the  Dey  of  Algiers.  The  squadron  rendevouzed  at  Syracuse, 
in  the  island  of  Sicily.  From  that  place  the  Siren  was  engaged  in  the 
expedition  sent  under  Lieutenant  Stewart  to  destroy  the  frigate  Phila- 
delphia, which  had  grounded  off  the  harbor  of  Tripoli,  and  was  sur- 
rendered to  the  Bashaw.  Lieutenant  Decatur  was  sent  in  the  Intre- 
pid, ketch,  with  seventy  volunteers,  to  board  and  burn  the  frigate,  which 
he  accomplished  in  the  most  gallant  manner;  and,  with  the  aid  of  the 
Siren's  boats,  under  Lieutenant  Caldwell,  effected  his  retreat  out  of  the 
harbor.  After  this  successful  expedition,  the  Siren,  Lieutenant  Stew- 
art, with  the  Vixen,  Enterprise,  and  Nautilus,  under  his  command, 
were  employed  in  a  rigid  blockade  of  the  city  of  Tripoli  and  the  adja- 
cent harbors.  During  this  period,  the  Greek  ship,  Catapoliana,  and  the 
British  brig,  Scourge,  of  twelve  guns,  were  captured  by  the  Siren,  for 
a  violation  of  the  blockade.  The  ship  was  restored  to  the  Greeks,  and 
the  brig  put  into  the  service  of  the  United  States  by  Commodore  Pre- 
ble. During  this  blockade,  Lieutenant  Stewart  frequently  led  in  the 
vessels  of  the  blockade  to  the  attack  of  the  batteries  and  flotilla,  to  ac- 
custom the  officers  and  men  to  the  enemy's  fire,  and  to  force  the  Tripo- 
Htans  to  expend  their  ammunition  ;  and  on  one  occasion,  they  attacked 
and  destroyed  two  batteries  the  enemy  had  erected  to  the  westward  of 
the  city,  for  the  protection  of  their  coasting  trade. 

On  the  first  of  August,  1804,  Commodore  Preble  arrived  off  Tripoli 
with  the  frigate  Constitution,  two  bomb  or  mortar  vessels,  and  six  gun- 
boats—united with  the  Siren  and  Argus,  brigs  of  eighteen  guns,  and  the 
Nautilus,  Vixen,  and  Enterprize,  schooners  of  twelve  guns,  he  deter- 
mined to  attack  the  town,  flotilla,  and  batteries  of  Tripoli.  On  the 
third,  the  wind  proving  favorable,  at  meridian  the  signal  was  made  to 
prepare  for  battle,  when  the  whole  force,  forming  a  line  ahead,  led  on 
by  the  brig  Siren,  Lieutenant  Ste.wart,  advanced  to  the  attack,  and 
when  within  reach  of  the  enemy's  fire,  the  gun-boats  were  cast  off;  and 
immediately  boarded  the  gun-boats  of  Tripoli,  twenty  of  which  were 
moored  in  a  line,  outside  of  the  reef  which  formed  the  harbor.  Three 
of  them  were  carried,  and  brought  off  under  cover  of  the  vessels  of 
war,  and  added  to  the  American  squadron.  On  this  occasion  were  is- 
sued the  following 

GENERAL    ORDERS. 

The  gallant  behavior  of  the  officers,  seamen,  and  marines  of  the 
squadron,  in  the  action  of  yesterday  with  the  enemies'  batteries,  gun- 
boats, and  corsairs,  claim  from  the  Commodore,  the  warmest  approba- 
tion and  praise  he  can  bestow. 

Captain  Stewart  of  the  Siren,  Captain  Hull  of  the  Argus,  and  Cap- 


11 

tain  Smith  of  the  Vixen,  will  please  to  accept  the  Commodore's  thank?, 
for  the  gallant  manner  in  which  they  brought  their  vessels  into  action, 
and  their  prompt  obedience  to  signals — particularly  that  to  cover  gun- 
boats and  prizes. 

Captain  Somers  will  please  to  accept  the  Commodore's  thanks  for  the 
gallant  conduct  displayed  by  him  in  attacking  five  of  the  enemy's  gun- 
boats within  musket  shot  of  the  batteries,  and  obliging  them  to  retreat 
after  a  warm  conflict. 

The  very  distinguished  judgment  and  intrepidity  of  Captain  Decatur 
in  leading  his  division  of  gunboats  into  action,  in  boarding,  capturing, 
and  bringing  out  from  under  the  batteries,  two  of  their  gunboats,  each 
of  superior  force,  is  particularly  gratifying  to  the  Commodore,  and  Cap- 
tain Decatur  will  be  pleased  to  accept  his  thanks. 

Lieutenant  Commandant  Dent,  and  Lieutenant  Robinson,  command- 
ing the  two  bomb  vessels,  are  entitled  to  the  thanks  of  the  Commodore 
for  the  judgment  and  bravery  displayed  by  them  in  placing  their  ves- 
sels, and  for  the  annoyance  they  gave  the  enemy. 

Lieutenant  Lawrence  of  the  Enterprize,  and  Lieutenant  Read  of  the 
Nautilus,  (commanding  these  vessels  in  the  absence  of  their  command- 
ers,) merit  the  Commodore's  thanks  for  their  active  exertions  in  towing 
and  protecting  prizes. 

The  Commodore  deeply  regrets  the  death  of  the  brave  Lieutenant 
James  Decatur,  who  nobly  fell  at  the  moment  he  had  obliged  an  enemy 
of  superior  force  to  strike  to  him. 

Lieutenant  Bainbridge,  in  pursuing  into  the  harbor  and  engaging  the 
enemy,  and  his  conduct  through  the  action,  merits  and  receives  the 
Commodore's  thanks. 

Lieutenant  Tripp  will  be  pleased  to  accept  thanks  for  the  gallant 
conduct  which  distinguished  him  in  boarding,  capturing,  and  bringing 
out  one  of  the  enemy's  gunboats  of  superior  force,  after  having  received 
eleven  wounds. 

I  have  now  to  tender  my  warmest  thanks  to  the  lieutenants,  sailing 
masters,  marine  officers,  and  other  officers  of  the  Constitution,  for  the 
prompt  support  I  received  from  them. 

The  conduct  of  the  officers,  seamen,  and  marines  of  the  squadron, 
have,  not  only  in  the  action  of  the  third  instant,  but  on  every  other 
occasion,  merited  the  highest  encomiums. 

Given  on  board  U.  S.  Ship  Constitution,  at  anchor  off  Tripoli,  the 
fourth  day  of  August,  1804. 

Signed,  EDWARD  PREBLE. 

For  the  whole  of  this  month  and  part  of  September  the  city  of  Tri- 
poli and  the  batteries  were  kept  under  the  fire  of  the  squadron,  and  the 
bombardments  of  the  mortar  vessels — at  least  whenever  the  wind  per- 
mitted the  squadron  to  approach  and  retreat:  they  were  invariably 
attacked  day  or  night  until  several  of  their  flotilla  were  sunk,  the  town 


12 

ami  batteries  considerably  injured,  and  many  of  the  enemy  were  killed 
and  wounded.  The  squadron,  however,  were  not  without  their  casual- 
ties, whereby  the  Siren  had  three  officers  and  eight  seamen  killed,  and 
thirteen  wounded.  After  this  distinguished  service,  Lieutenant  Stewart 
was  promoted  to  be  master  commandant,  and  placed  in  command  of  the 
frigate  Essex,  which  vessel,  after  the  conclusion  of  peace  with  Tripoli, 
proceeded  with  the  rest  of  the  squadron,  commanded  by  Commodore 
Rogers,  to  Tunis  Bay,  for  the  purpose  of  checking  in  that  regency  a 
rising  disposition  to  commence  hostilities  on  the  flag  and  commerce  of 
the  United  States.  The  hostile  attitude  of  the  squadron,  while  there, 
induced  Mr.  George  Davis,  consul  of  the  United  States,  to  leave  the  city 
and  seek  refuge  on  board  of  the  fleet.  The  state  of  our  affairs  now 
drawing  to  a  crisis  so  serious,  it  appeared  to  the  Consul  General,  Colonel 
Lear,  that  the  flag  officer  ought  to  strengthen  his  acts  with  the  advice 
and  consent  of  his  principal  officers;  in  consequence  of  which,  the  Com- 
mander-in-chief called  a  council,  consisting  of  Captains  Campbell,  Deca- 
tur,  Stewart,  Hull,  Smith,  Dent,  and  Robinson,  to  whom  the  situation 
of  our  affairs  with  the  regency  was  explained,  and  the  opinion  of  the 
officers  demanded  whether  hostilities  ought  not  to  immediately  com- 
mence. It  was  at  this  council  that  the  opinion  of  Captain  Stewart 
carried  with  it  the  assent  of  all  the  officers,  and  preserved  the  peace  of 
the  country  with  that  regency.  It  was  on  receiving  that  opinion,  as 
delivered  in  the  council,  transmitted  by  the  Consul  General  and  the 
Consul,  Mr.  Davis,  to  the  President  of  the  United  States,  that  Mr.  Jef- 
ferson expressed  to  his  cabinet,  the  high  satisfaction  he  felt  at  having 
an  officer  in  the  squadron  who  comprehended  the  international  law,  the 
constitution  of  his  country,  and  the  policy  of  his  government.  Captain 
Stewart  gave  it  as  his  opinion,  that  there  was  no  power  under  the  Con- 
stitution of  the  United  States  which  authorized  hostilities  and  war  on 
others,  but  that  which  was  lodged  exclusively  with  Congress;  that  the 
President  of  the  United  States  could  not  exercise  this  power,  without 
the  action  and  authority  of  Congress,  much  less  a  commander  of  an 
American  squadron ;  that  due  respect  for  the  laws  of  Nations  forbade 
aggression,  and  only  justified  self  defence  by  vigilance  and  convoy  for 
the  protection  of  our  citizens,  their  property  and  commerce;  but  where 
hostile  attempts  were  made  on  either,  he  would  be  justified  in  seizing 
all  persons  engaged  in  them,  but  no  farther  would  his  country  sanction 
his  acts.  The  policy  of  the  United  States  was  at  all  times  pacific,  and 
especially  so  with  a  people  remote  from  our  country,  with  whom  we 
must  war  with  every  disadvantage :  that  we  had  just  terminated  a  war 
with  one  of  those  powers,  even  more  insignificant  and  assailable  than 
Tunis,  at  considerable  expense — the  loss  of  one  frigate  and  several 
valuable  lives:  it  was  true,  the  enemy  had  been  punished  for  forcing 
war  on  us;  but  might  we  not  be  punished  through  disaster,  by  forcing 
war  upon  Tunis;  that  their  threats  were  well  calculated  to  put  us  on 
our  guard,  but  would  not  justify  aggression. 


13 

This  sound  reasoning  and  discretion  prevailed;  our  Consul  was  re- 
stored to  his  post,  peace  was  continued,  and  the  Bey  of  Tunis  sent  a 
special  minister  (Melley  Melley,)  to  the  United  States,  who  received 
every  satisfaction  at  the  hands  of  Mr.  Jefferson.  On  the  termination  of 
this  affair  with  the  regency  of  Tunis,  Captain  Stewart  took  command 
of  the  frigate  Constellation  and  returned  to  the  United  States.  On  his 
arrival  he  was  promoted  to  a  post  captaincy. 

Navy  Depart,  24  April,  1806. 

SIR: — It  affords  me  real  pleasure,  to  have  it  in  my  power  to  transmit 
to  you,  herewith,  a  commission,  to  which  your  honorable  services  so 
justly  entitle  you. 

I  am,  with  great  respect,  sir,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

R.  SMITH. 
To  Capt.  CHARLES  STEWART,  Philadelphia. 

Navy  Depart.,  April  30th,  1808. 

SIR: — Therewith  transmit  to  you  an  impression  of  the  medal,  pre- 
sented to  the  late  Commodore  Edward  Preble,  in  pursuance  of  the  reso- 
lution of  Congress  of  the  3d  March,  1805. 

This  is  given  to  you,  as  one  of  the  officers  of  the  navy,  who  honorably 
participated  in  the  gallant  achievement,  the  memory  of  which  it  is 
intended  to  preserve. 

1  have  the  honor  to  be,  respectfully,  sir,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

R.  SMITH. 

Capt.  CHARLES  STEWART,  Philadelphia. 


During  part  of  the  years  1806  and  7,  Captain  Stewart  was  employed 
in  superintending  the  construction  of  gunboats  at  New  York,  and  was 
afterwards  engaged  in  prosecuting  mercantile  enteprizes  to  the  East 
Indies,  the  Mediterranean,  and  Adriatic.  During  these  voyages,  he 
was  fortunate  enough,  through  his  spirited  intercession,  to  release  seve- 
ral of  his  fellow  citizens  who  had  been  impressed  into  British  ships  of 
war.  On  the  declaration  of  war  with  Great  Britain,  in  1812,  he  pro- 
ceeded, in  conjunction  with  Commodore  Bainbridge,  to  Washington,  for 
the  purpose  of  seeking  service ;  but  on  presenting  themselves  at  the 
Navy  Department,  they  were  informed  by  Mr,  Goldsborough,  the  chief 
clerk,  that  it  had  been  decided  by  the  cabinet  to  place  all  the  ships  of 
war  in  the  harbor  of  New  York,  for  its  defence,  and  thus  deprive  the 
marine  of  all  opportunity  for  distinguished  service.  They  saw  at  once 
the  injurious  consequences  of  such  an  order,  the  disheartening  of  the 
service,  by  such  a  withdrawal  of  confidence  in  the  navy;  the  paralyzing 
effects,  and  the  national  humiliation  it  would  produce  in  thus  tacitly 
acknowledging  the  invincibility  of  the  enemy,  without  an  effort  to  arrest 
it.  They  immediately  stated  their  apprehensions  to  the  Secretary  of 
the  Navy,  and  asked  him  what  the  navy  had  done,  that  its  members 

\ 


14 

were  to  be  deprived  of  so  favorable  an  opportunity  of  plucking  trophies 
from  their  renowned  enemy  on  his  own  element,  the  ocean  wave.  The 
Secretary  of  the  Navy  stated  the  anxieties  of  the  government  on  the 
subject,  and  that  nothing  had  perplexed  them  more — apprehending 
that  our  very  limited  marine  would  be  immediately  overwhelmed  and 
crushed  by  superior  force  and  numbers.  The  inexperience  of  our  offi- 
cers generally,  the  want  of  artillery  practice  in  our  seamen,  who  were 
not  inured  to  scenes  of  blood,  seemed  to  forbid  their  being  opposed  to  a 
marine  which  had  triumphed  over  every  flag  in  every  sea,  with  the 
advantages  of  twenty  years'  constant  practice.  To  this  formidable 
array  of  cautious  reasons,  they  replied  with  arguments  that  convinced 
the  Secretary  of  the  erroneous  position,  and  a  spirited  letter  written 
to  the  President  that  night,  by  Captains  Bainbridge  and  Stewart,  con- 
vinced him  also ;  he  immediately  directed  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy 
to  send  the  vessels  of  war  to  sea,  to  seek  their  enemy,  and  he  would 
take  the  responsibility  on  himself.  Mr.  Goldsborough,  who  was  ac- 
quainted with  the  contents  of  that  letter,  sought  it  in  vain  at  the  hands 
of  Mr.  Madison,  for  insertion  in  his  work  on  the  Naval  History  of  the 
United  States.*  The  brother  officers  of  Captains  Stewart  and  Bain- 
bridge  nobly  sustained  the  opinions  given  on  that  occasion ;  by  their 
gallantry  on  the  ocean  and  on  the  lakes,  they  verified  their  predictions, 
and  released  those  gentlemen  from  their  pledges  to  the  Executive  Go- 
vernment. 

It  will  be  borne  in  mind  by  the  reader  that  the  declaration  of  war 
by  the  President's  proclamation  took  place  on  the  nineteenth  June,  1812; 
on  the  twenty-first,  Captains  Stewart  and  Bainbridge  presented  them- 
selves to  the  Government,  and  on  the  twenty -second,  it  was  determined 
by  the  President,  in  conformity  with  the  suggestions  of  these  officers, 
that  the  ships  should  be  sent  to  sea,  and  to  sea  they  were  forthwith  or- 
dered. Captain  Stewart  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  brig 
Argus  and  Hornet  sloop  of  war,  which  vessels  formed  a  part  of  the 
squadron  of  Commodore  Rogers,  but  were  ordered  to  be  withdrawn  for 
the  purpose  of  allowing  Captain  Stewart  to  make  a  dash  with  them 
amongst  the  British  West  India  Islands- f  This  command  was  accom- 
panied by  a  private  letter,  dated  23d  June,  1812,  from  the  Secretary 
of  the  Navy.  We  only  extract  the  last  sentence  of  it  to  show  his  feel- 
ing towards  Captain  Stewart. 

[EXTRACT.] 

You  know  not  how  you  have  risen  in  my  mind  by  the  magnanimous 
conduct  you  exhibited  yesterday.  May  God  Almighty  bless  you,  and 
crown  you  with  success  and  honor. 

Signed,  PAUL  HAMILTON. 

•  The  author  presumes  the  President  thought  this  letter  too  important  a  cabinet  se- 
cret to  be  divulged. 

t  In  consequence  of  the  squadron  under  Commodore  Rogers  having  loft  the  waters 
of  New  York,  this  order  was  not  carried  into  effect. 


15 

In  December,  Captain  Stewart  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the 
frigate  Constellation,  then  repairing  at  Washington.  In  November,  the 
Secretary  of  the  Navy  addressed  to  him  the  following  letter. 

Navy  Department,  llth  November,  181  2 

SIR — The  naval  committee  are  desirous  of  possessing  the  most  com- 
prehensive information  upon  naval  subjects,  in  particular  as  to  the  de- 
scription of  marine  force  best  adapted  to  our  defence,  and  the  relative 
efficiency  of  vessels  of  different  rates ;  I  have,  therefore,  to  request  of 
you,  as  a  professional  man,  your  opinions  at  large  upon  the  following 
points : — 

FIRST.  What,  in  your  opinion,  is  the  relative  efficiency  of  ships  of 
the  line  and  frigates — say  seventy -fours  and  large  frigates  ? 

SECOND.  What,  in  your  opinion,  is  the  relative  efficiency  of  large  fri- 
gates and  sloops  of  war? 

THIRD.  What  description  of  naval  force  do  you  think  best  adapted 
to  the  defence  of  our  coast  and  commerce? 

FOURTH.  What  description  of  force  do  you  think  best  calculated  to 
prosecute  the  present  war,  and  any  future  war  in  which  we  may  be 
engaged? 

FIFTH.  Would  not  the  erection  of  docks  for  the  repairs  of  our  ves- 
sels produce  a  great  saving  in  expense,  labor,  and  risk  1  Would  not 
docks  greatly  expedite  the  refitting  of  our  ships? 

Be  pleased  to  favor  me  with  answers,  assigning  your  reasons  at  large 
for  your  opinions,  as  early  as  may  be  in  your  power. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  with  great  respect,  sir, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

PAUL  HAMILTON. 

Capt  CHARLES  STEWART,  of  the  Navy. 

To  which  the  following  reply  was  given  : — 

[COPT.] 
United  States'  Frigate  Constellation,  Nov.  12, 1812. 

SIR  : — I  have  received  your  letter  of  the  eleventh  inst,  in  which  you 
state  that  it  is  "  the  desire  of  the  naval  committee  to  possess  the  most 
comprehensive  information  upon  naval  subjects,  particularly  the  marine 
force  best  adapted  to  our  defence,  and  the  relative  efficiency  of  vessels 
of  different  rates."  In  compliance  therewith,  I  have  the  honor  to  an- 
swer the  questions  you  proposed  as  follows : — 

QUESTION  FIRST.  What,  in  your  opinion,  is  the  relative  efficiency  of 
ships  of  the  line— say  seventy  fours  and  large  frigates  ? 

ANSWER.  The  relative  force  of  a  seventy-four  gun  ship  and  large 
frigate  is  as  one  to  three. 


16 

COMPARATIVE    FORCE. 

Frigate  of  50  guns. 

Gun  Deck,  30  24  pounders. 

Quarter  ditto,  14  32  Ib.  carronades. 

Forecastle,  6  32          ditto. 

Guns,  50  1360  Ibs.  each  round. 

Men,  430 

480  Guns  and  Men. 

Ship  of  the  Line,  74  guns. 

Lower  Gun  Deck,  28  42  pounders. 

Upper       ditto,  30  24       ditto. 

Quarter    ditto,  16  42  Ib.  carronades. 

Forecastle,  8  42           ditto. 

ditto,  2  24  pounders. 

Poop,  4  68  Ib.  carronades. 


Guns,  88         3224  Ibs.  each  round. 

Men,  650 

738  Guns  and  Men. 

ARGUMENT.  By  the  above  comparison  it  appears  that  a  seventy-four 
gun  ship  discharges  at  one  round  3224  pound  shot,  and  a  frigate  of  the 
first  class  1360  pounds;  it  therefore  clearly  proves  the  position  of  rela- 
tive force  in  point  of  metal  to  be  one  to  three,  or  thereabouts.  When 
this  circumstance  is  considered  jointly  with  the  following,  it  must  appear 
to  others  as  it  does  to  me,  that  as  you  increase  the  class  of  the  ship,  you 
increase  the  force  in  proportion  of  one  to  three,  and  diminish  proportion- 
ately the  expense  of  building,  equipping,  and  supporting  them  in  com- 
mission, which  may  easily  be  established  by  estimates  from  the  Depart- 
ment and  the  experience  of  all  other  marine  nations. 

Ships  of  the  line  are  much  stronger  in  scantling,  thicker  in  the  sides 
and  bottom,  less  penetrable  to  the  shot,  and  consequently,  less  liable  to 
be  torn,  or  battered  to  pieces,  or  sunk:  the  additional  room  being  more 
in  proportion  to  the  additional  number  of  men,  leaves  greater  space  for 
water  and  provisions,  and  admits  of  her  wings  being  kept  clear,  that 
shot,  penetrating  through  below  the  water,  the  holes  can  readily  be 
plugged  up  from  the  inside,  and  her  sinking  thereby  prevented.  Hence, 
we  have  seen  ships  of  the  line  capable  of  battering  one  another  for 
several  hours,  and  if  not  too  much  crippled  in  the  spars  and  rigging,  en- 
abled to  renew  an  action  on  the  following  day.  I  am  aware  that  some 
are  of  opinion  that  a  more  divided  force  is  better  calculated  for  action, 
from  the  advantageous  position  that  would  be  given  to  a  part.  Suppose 
three  frigates  of  fifty  guns  were  to  undertake  to  batter  a  seventy-four 


17 

gun  ship,  and  that  two  of  them  were  to  occupy  the  quarter  and  stern  of 
the  seventy-four,  (this  is  placing  them  in  the  most  favorable  position,) 
the  other  frigate  engaged  abreast — every  thing  then  would  depend 
upon  the  time  that  the  frigate  abreast  could  maintain  that  position,  to 
enable  the  other  two  to  act  with  effect  upon  the  stern  and  quarter.— 
But  it  must  be  evident  to  all  acquainted  with  the  two  classes  of  ships, 
that  the  frigate  abreast  could  not  withstand  the  fire  of  so  heavy  and 
compact  a  battery  many  minutes,  and  in  all  probability,  would  be  dis- 
masted or  sunk  the  first  or  second  broadside.  This  would  decide  the 
fate  of  the  other  two.  Much  might  be  said  of  the  superiority  of  ships 
of  the  line  over  frigates,  in  the  attack  of  batteries,  or  their  defence;  on 
the  security  of  valuable  convoys  of  merchant  ships,  or  troops  sent  on 
an  expedition;  but  their  advantages,  in  these  respects,  must  be  evident 
to  all,  however  unacquainted  with  nautical  affairs. 

QUESTION  SECOND.  What,  in  your  opinion,  is  the  relative  efficiency 
or  force  of  large  frigates  and  sloops  of  war? 

ANSWER.  The  relative  efficiency  of  large  frigates  and  sloops  of  war 
is,  at  least,  one  to  two. 

COMPARATIVE    FORCE. 

Sloop  oj  War. 

Gun  Deck,  16  24  pounders. 

Quarter  ditto,  8  24  Ib.  carronades. 

Forecastle,  4  24        ditto. 

Guns,    28          480  Ibs.  of  shot. 
Men,  180 

208  Guns  and  Men. 
Frigate. 

Gun  Deck,  30  24  pounders. 

Quarter  ditto,  14  32  Ib.  carronades. 

Forecastle,  6  32        ditto. 


1360  Ib.  Shot. 


480  Guns  and  Men. 

QUESTION  THIRD.  What  description  of  naval  force  do  you  think  best 
adapted  to  the  defence  of  our  coast  and  commerce  ? 

ANSWER.  Ships  of  the  line  are  best  calculated  for  the  defence  of  our 
coasts,  and  for  the  protection  of  our  commerce,  inward  and  outward, 
when  engaged  in  war  with  a  foreign  maritime  power. 

ARGUMENT.  It  cannot  be  supposed,  in  a  war  with  a  foreign  maritime 
power,  that  that  power  will  only  send  to  our  coast  frigates  and  smaller 
cruisers  because  we  possess  no  other  description  of  vessels.  Their  first 
3 


18 

object  will  be  to  restrain,  by  ships  of  the  line,  our  frigates  and  other 
cruisers  from  departing  and  preying  upon  their  commerce.  Their  next 
object  will  be  to  send  their  smaller  cruisers  in  pursuit  of  our  commerce, 
and  by  having  their  ships  of  the  line  parading  on  our  coast,  threatening 
our  most  exposed  sea-port  towns,  and  preventing  the  departure  of  our 
small  cruisers,  they  will  be  capturing  what  commerce  may  have  escaped 
theirs,  and  recapturing  what  prizes  may  have  fallen  into  our  hands. — 
Thirdly,  they  can  at  any  time  withdraw  their  ships  of  the  line,  should  a 
more  important  object  require  it,  without  hazarding  much  on  their 
part,  and  return  in  sufficient  time  to  shut  out  our  cruisers  that  may 
have  departed  during  their  absence.  Fourthly,  they  can  at  all  times 
consult  their  convenience  in  point  of  time  and  numbers,  and  will  incur 
no  expense  and  risk  of  transports  for  provisions  and  water,  but  can  go 
and  procure  their  supplies  at  pleasure,  and  return  to  their  station  ere 
their  absence  is  known  to  us. 

QUESTION  FOURTH.  What  description  of  force  do  you  think  best  cal- 
culated to  prosecute  the  present  war,  and  any  future  war  in  which  we 
may  engage? 

ANSWER.  For  the  prosecution  of  the  present  war  with  most  effect,  a 
mixed  naval  force  of  the  following  description,  in  my  opinion,  is  the  best 
calculated. 

Ships  of  the  line,  to  rate,  in  honor  of  the  year  of  our  independence, 
seventy-sixes,  to  mount  as  follows. 
.    28  42-pounders,  on  the  lower  gun  deck. 

30  24       ditto,  upper    ditto. 

24  42-pound  carronades  on  quarter  deck  and  forecastle. 
2  24-pounders  on  forecastle. 
4  68-pound  carronades  on  poop. 

88  Guns. 

Frigates  to  rate  forty  guns,  to  mount  as  follows  : 
30  24-pounders  on  gun  deck. 
20  32-pound  carronades  on  quarter  deck  and  forecastle. 

50  Guns. 

Frigates  to  rate  thirty-two  guns,  to  mount  as  follows : 
26  18-pounders  on  gun  deck. 
16  24-pound  carronades  on  quarter  deck  and  forecastle. 

42  Guns. 

Corvette  ships  to  rate  sixteen  guns,  to  mount  as  follows: 
18  32-pound  carronades. 
2  12-pounders. 

20  Guns 


19 

ARGUMENT.  By  having  a  proportion  of  these  classes  of  ships  of  war, 
the  inner  squadron,  or  "garde  di  costa"  may  be  composed  of  the  ships 
ef  the  line,  and  a  few  of  the  thirty-two  gun  ships  for  repeaters  and 
look-out  ships— hence  it  would  produce  one  of  two  results,  either  that 
the  enemy  would  be  obliged  to  abandon  our  coast,  or  bring  on  it  a  much 
greater  force,  at  least  double  our  number,  out  of  which  they  would  be 
obliged  to  keep  on  our  coasts  a  superiority  at  all  hazards  of  the  sea,  and 
at  great  additional  expense  and  risk  of  transports  for  provisions  and  wa- 
ter. But  should  they,  from  other  circumstances,  be  unable  to  keep  up 
this  superiority  on  our  coast,  the  door  will  be  kept  open  for  the  ingress 
or  egress  of  our  cruisers  and  their  prizes,  while  our  other  classes  of 
ships  may  be  sent  in  pursuit  of  their  smaller  cruisers  and  commerce. 
These  observations  will  apply  to  all  future  wars  in  which  we  may  be 
engaged  with  maritime  powers;  but  as  we  might  more  frequently  be 
engaged  with  the  Barbary  powers,  the  frigates  and  sixteen  gun  ships 
would  be  better  adapted  to  that  species  of  warfare.  They  have  no 
ships  of  the  line.  Our  ships  of  the  line  could  then  be  laid  in  ordinary, 
dismantled  and  preserved  at  a  small  expense. 

QUESTION  FIFTH.  Would  not  the  erection  of  docks  for  the  repairs  of 
our  vessels,  produce  a  great  saving  in  expense,  labor,  and  risk,  and 
would  not  docks  greatly  expedite  the  refitting  of  our  ships? 

ANSWER.  A  dry  dock,  agreeably  to  a  plan  I  furnished  the  department 
some  time  since,  to  be  freed  from  water  by  pumps  or  drains,  will  be 
indispensable  for  the  repairs  of  ships  of  war,  and  will  be  the  least  ex- 
pensive way  of  repairing  the  bottoms  of  our  ships,  and  will  expedite 
the  outfits,  in  point  of  time,  one  to  ten. 

ARGUMENT.  A  ship  of  war,  wanting  repairs  done  to  her  bottom,  or 
coppering,  must  be  turned  down,  one  side  at  a  time,  to  undergo  that  re- 
pair; therefore,  to  prepare  a  ship  for  that  process,  requires  that  all  her 
upper  masts  should  be  taken  down,  and  all  her  guns,  stores,  water-casks, 
ballast,  ammunition,  &c.,  should  be  taken  out,  which  leads  to  great  loss, 
waste,  and  labor,  and  the  time  occupied  in  the  process,  will  be  from 
two  to  three  weeks,  and  as  much  more  time  will  be  required  to  re-rig, 
re-equip,  and  re-place  her  guns,  stores,  and  other  materials.  The  pre- 
paration to  dock  a  ship  of  war  can  be  done  in  twelve  hours;  all  that  is 
necessary  to  be  done,  is  to  take  out  the  guns,  and  pump  the  water  out 
of  the  water-casks;  and  when  in  dock,  the  repairs  of  her  bottom  can 
progress  on  both,  sides  at  the  same  time.  Should  a  ship  of  war  require 
a  thorough  repair  throughout,  it  can  never  be  effectually  done  but  in  a 
dock:  for  instance,  in  repairing  ships  of  war  in  the  water,  they  are  lia- 
ble to  have  the  fine  form  of  their  bottom  spoiled  by  hogging,  spreading, 
or  warping,  which  will  materially  affect  their  sailing.  Ships  wanting 
thorough  repairs,  require  all  the  plank  ripped  off  inside  and  outside, 
their  beams,  knees,  and  clamps  taken  out ;  these  are  all  they  have  to 
bind  their  frames  together,  and  thereby  preserve  their  shape;  but 
when  stripped  of  these  to  make  room  for  the  new,  they  are  liable  to 


20 

hogg  from  the  greatest  weight  and  body  of  timber  being  in  the  fore 
and  after  end,  at  which  places  there  is  no  pressure  upwards,  caused  by 
the  water,  as  those  ends  are  sharp;  the  two  extremes  of  the  ship  are 
liable  to  sink  in  the  water,  while  the  body  or  middle  of  the  ship  rises 
with  the  upward  pressure  of  the  water.  The  next  consideration  in  re- 
pairing the  bottoms  in  the  water,  though  not  of  such  vital  importance, 
is  not  unworthy  of  serious  attention:  the  bolting  into  the  bottom  ought 
to  be  driven  from  the  outside,  but  when  repaired  afloat,  they  are  under 
the  necessity  of  driving  them  from  the  inside,  hence  the  bottom  will 
not  be  so  strong  nor  so  well  secured. 

The  time  for  answering  the  several  questions  propounded  to  me  in 
your  letter  of  the  eleventh  inst.  being  very  short,  and  a  great  deal  being 
required  by  my  other  avocations,  will,  I  trust,  be  a  sufficient  apology 
for  my  not  going  more  largely  and  minutely  into  the  subject,  as  also  for 
any  inaccuracies  which  I  may  have  committed.  I  will,  therefore,  close 
this  communication  with  an  expression  of  my  hopes  that  whatever  may 
be  proposed  by  the  naval  committee  to  Congress  on  the  subject,  they 
will  strongly  recommend  to  their  consideration  the  necessity  of  having 
what  they  propose  for  the  increase  of  the  navy  of  the  best  seasoned 
materials,  which  will  be  by  far  the  cheapest,  and  be  longer  in  a  state 
for  active  service.  I  trust  their  past  experience  will  prove  this  position 
to  their  satisfaction,  that  the  best  materials  are  always  the  cheapest, 
and  that  a  slow  increase  is  better  than  a  hasty  and  temporary  one. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 
Signed,  CHARLES  STEWART. 

Hon.  PAUL  HAMILTON. 

We  agree  with  Captain  Stewart,  in  the  within  statement,  in  all  its 
parts. 

SVned    $  ISAAC  HULL, 

°      J  (  CHARLES  MORRIS. 

In  December,  1812,  this  ship  was  equipped,  and  ready  for  sea,  and 
Captain  Stewart  embraced  the  occasion  to  give  a  splendid  entertain- 
ment on  board  that  vessel,  to  all  the  branches  of  government,  and  the 
citizens  of  the  district:  there  were  upward  of  eight  hundred  ladies  and 
gentlemen  on  board,  where  they  passed  without  accident  a  most  agree- 
able day,  and  returned  to  their  homes  at  night,  delighted  with  the 
entertainment  and  hospitality  of  the  captain.  Soon  after  the  citizens 
of  the  district  gave  a  return  ball  to  Captain  Stewart,  and  the  officers  of 
the  navy ;  it  was  at  this  ball  room,  about  ten  o'clock  at  night,  that 
Midshipman  Hamilton,  the  son  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  and  the 
aid  of  Captain  Decatur,  arrived  with  the  flag  of  the  Macedonian  frigate, 
and  the  despatches  of  Captain  Decatur,  giving  an  account  of  his  having 
captured  her  with  the  frigate  United  States.  The  dancing  ceased,  the 
flag  was  spread  on  the  floor,  the  despatches  read  to  the  President,  and 
the  assembled  ladies  and  gentlemen ;  to  describe  the  scene  which  fol- 


21 

lowed  would  require  a  more  graphic  pen  than  we  hold.     The  reader 
might  well  be  left  to  his  own  reflections  and  feelings,  and  glorious  sym- 
pathies.    Nor  will  he,  we  are  certain,  omit  to  recur  to  that  gallant 
impulse  which  led  Stewart  and  Bainbridge  to  Washington,  to  remon- 
strate against  the  inglorious  policy  that  had  been  adopted,  of  shutting 
up  our  ships,  and  the  way  to  those  brilliant  scenes  which  lighted  up  the 
ocean  and  the  lakes,  with  such  unfading  glory !     We  cannot  resist  the 
impulse  to  say  something  of  that  memorable  occasion.     The  building, 
large  and  commodious  as  it  was,  as  the  flag  lay  in  the  midst  of  the  bril- 
liant assembly,  literally  trembled  to  its  foundation  with  the  plaudits. 
Ladies  were  seen  laughing  and  weeping  with  joy;  gentlemen  embracing 
one  another;  members  of  Congress  who  were  opposed  to  each  other  in 
the  morning,  on  questions  concerning  the  war,  were  found  in  each 
other's  arms ;  the  opposers  of  the  war  recovered,  for  the  moment,  their 
lost  patriotism,  and  in  the  arms  of  their  democratic  colleagues,  their 
hearts  beat  in  unison  with  each  other  over  the  glory  acquired  for  their 
country,  while  the  tears  of  gratitude  streamed  from  their  eyes,  and  fell 
on  the  prostrate  flag  of  Britain.     The  venerable  Macon,  forgetting  his 
stern  consistency,  exclaimed,  "I  never  behold  an  officer  of  our  navy, 
without  the  expansion  of  my  heart  making  me  feel  as  much  affection 
for  him  as  I  could  for  a  brother."    In  the  general  confusion,  and  the 
loss  of  all  personal  distinction,  through  the  patriotic  feelings  of  the  mo- 
ment, the  President  himself  received  the  fraternal  embrace  of  a  federal 
senator.     In  this  ball  room,  and  on  this  occasion,  the  Secretary  of  the 
Navy,  (Mr.  Hamilton,)  stated  to  those  assembled,  "!T  is  TO  CAPTAINS 
BAINBRIDGE  AND  STEWART  YOU  OWE  YOUR  NAVAL  VICTORIES."     We  do  no 
more  than  repeat  the  history  of  the  times,  when  we  say,  that  it  was  to 
the  victories  of  our  brave  tars,  on  the  ocean,  over  the  English,  that 
the  first  impulse  and  success  of  the  war  are  to  be  fairly  ascribed. 

Unprepared,  at  its  commencement,  the  nation  divided  on  the  ques- 
tion, and  the  fleets  of  the  enemy  hovering  on  our  shores,  doubt  and 
darkness  enveloped  its  declaration,  and  made  the  boldest  hearts  quail. 
Who  that  remembers  that  day,  will  ever  forget  the  shouts  of  joy  which 
rang  through  the  land,  as  victory  upon  victory  was  announced,  and  flag 
after  flag  of  the  proud  mistress  of  the  deep  bowed  to  the  star  spangled 
banner  of  freedom !  The  national  pulse  beat  high  in  every  bosom;  and 
every  valley,  and  every  hill  top,  sent  forth  its  song  of  praise.  Our 
cities,  towns,  and  hamlets  blazed  with  illuminations,  and  our  armies 
marched  joyfully  to  battle.  The  spell  was  broken !  The  foe  had  been 
confronted,  on  his  own  element,  ship  to  ship,  man  to  man,  and  gun  to 
gun,  and  never  had  the  stars  and  stripes  of  our  country  come  down. 
The  heart  of  the  traitor  shrivelled  up  within  him,  and  the  notes  of 
despair  died  upon  his  lips.  Our  foe  was  struck  aghast  at  his  defeat, 
and  trembled  as  he  grappled  with  us,  on  sea  and  land.  Mr.  Madison's 
administration  acquired  strength,  his  friends  confidence,  the  people  hope, 
and  the  army  and  navy  assurance  of  victory  and  fame.  Such  were  the 


22 

results  of  the  noble  counsel  of  Captains  Stewart  and  Bainbridge,  and 
such  the  glorious  fulfilment  of  their  predictions !  One  only  of  those 
chivalrous  heroes  lives  to  witness  the  deep  and  lasting  gratitude  of  his 
country.  Death  has  set  his  seal  upon  the  other,  and  sanctified  his 
memory  in  the  affections  of  his  countrymen.  The  fruits  of  their 
generous  patriotism  will  long  be  seen  in  our  elevated  national  character, 
in  the  glory  of  our  arms,  in  the  potency  of  our  influence,  and  in  the 
arrest  of  the  ruffian  hand  of  impressment,  from  touching  the  humblest 
head  that  seeks  shelter  beneath  our  "striped  bunting"  once  so  con- 
temned and  despised.  American  decks  are  now  as  inviolable  as  the 
American  soil,  and  the  proudest  foot  in  the  enemy's  rank  dare  not  tar- 
nish them  with  rudeness  or  insult.  The  last  American  sailor  has  been 
long  since  dragged  into  foreign  bondage,  on  the  high  seas. 

Amongst  the  assembled  fashion  and  beauty  on  the  memorable  occa- 
sion referred  to,  we  observed  Mrs.  Madison,  Miss  Mayo,  (now  Mrs.  Gen. 
Scott,)  the  Misses  Caton,  Mrs.  Jerome  Bonaparte,  and  many  others. 

Captain  Stewart  shortly  after  proceeded  to  Hampton  Roads,  in  the 
Constellation,  preparatory  to  going  on  a  cruize,  but  unfortunately,  the 
morning  after  anchoring  there,  he  discovered  the  enemy  approaching 
his  anchorage  with  a  superior  force  of  two  seventy-fours,  three  frigates, 
and  several  small  vessels  of  war:  he  lost  no  time  in  preparing  to  retreat. 
It  being  calm  with  him,  he  commenced  kedging  his  frigate  towards  Nor- 
folk ;  the  enemy's  vessels  approached  rapidly  with  a  fine  breeze,  which 
they  fortunately  lost  off  Willoughby's  Point,  and  they  were,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  ebb  tide,  compelled  to  anchor.  The  Constellation  was 
kedged  up  on  the  flats  off  Sowell's  Point,  where  she  lay  aground  the 
rest  of  the  day ;  Captain  Stewart  continued  to  press  the  river  craft  and 
lighten  his  vessel.  In  case  the  enemy,  by  kedging  up  their  seventy- 
fours,  or  by  means  of  a  breeze,  had  reached  his  position,  he  was  pre- 
pared for  burning  the  Constellation :  the  night  flood,  however,  made ; 
when  about  eight  o'clock,  his  ship  floated,  sail  was  made  on  her  with  a 
fine  breeze,  boats  with  lights  and  pilots  were  sent  to  point  out  the  shoals, 
and  at  eleven  o'clock,  P.  M.,  the  Constellation  was  safely  moored  be- 
tween forts  Norfolk  and  Nelson,  where  she  afterwards  contributed  to 
defend  that  place,  and  with  her  cannon  and  her  crew,  repulsed  the 
enemy's  attack  on  Crany  Island,  and  defeated  the  expedition  sent  to 
capture  Norfolk  and  its  dependencies. 

In  the  summer  of  1813,  Captain  Stewart  was  ordered  to  assume  the 
command  of  the  frigate  Constitution,  then  undergoing  repairs  at  Boston. 
In  December  following  he  proceeded  on  a  cruize.  After  exhibiting 
that  ship  on  the  coasts  of  Georgia  and  South  Carolina,  about  the  Ber- 
muda Islands,  off  the  coasts  of  Surinam,  Berbice  and  Demerara,  to  wind- 
ward of  the  islands  of  Barbadoes,  St.  Vincent,  Martinico,  off  St.  Chris- 
topher's, St.  Eustatia,  Porto  Rico,  and  Santa  Cruz,  and  destroying  the 
Picton  of  sixteen  guns,  a  merchant  ship  of  ten  guns,  the  brig  Catherine 
and  schooner  Phoimx,  he  chased  several  British  ships  of  war,  and  the  fri- 


23 

gate  La  Pique,  in  the  Mona  passage,  without  being  able  to  overtake  any 
of  them,  in  consequence  of  the  worn  out  state  of  the  sails  of  the  Constitu- 
tion. Capt.  Stewart  determined  to  return  to  Boston,  and  replace  them, 
for  the  old  sails  had  served  throughout  the  periods  of  Captain  Hull's  and 
Captain  Bainbridge's  former  cruises.  In  April,  the  Constitution  arrived 
at  Marble  Head,  in  Massachusetts  bay,  having  with  great  difficulty 
escaped  from  the  British  frigates,  the  Junon,  and  La  Nymphe,  of  fifty 
guns  each. 

In  December,  the  Constitution  proceeded  on  another  cruize,  under 
the  command  of  Captain  Stewart,  having  been  refitted  with  great  care, 
and  furnished  with  new  sails.  On  the  twenty-fourth,  he  captured  and 
destroyed,  to  the  eastward  of  the  Bermudas,  the  brig  Lord  Nelson ;  off 
Lisbon,  he  captured  the  ship  Susan,  with  a  valuable  cargo,  and  sent 
her  to  New  York;  and  on  the  twentieth  of  February,  1815,  after  a 
sharp  conflict  of  forty  minutes,  he  captured  the  British  ships  of  warr,  the 
Cyane  of  thirty-four  guns,  and  the  Levant,  of  twenty-one  guns,  having 
three  men  killed,  and  thirteen  wounded;  the  British  ships  having  in  all 
thirty-five  killed,  and  forty-two  wounded. 

The  following  is  the  official  report  of  that  action. 

United  States  Frigate  Constitution, 

At  Sea,  23d  February,  1815. 

SIR: — On  the  twentieth  of  February  last,  the  Island  of  Madeira  bear- 
ing W.  S.  W.,  distant  about  sixty  leagues,  we  fell  in  with  his  Britannic 
Majesty's  two  ships  of  war,  the  Cyane  and  Levant,  and  brought  them 
to  action  about  6  o'clock  in  the  evening,  both  ot  which,  after  a  spirited 
engagement  of  forty  minutes,  surrendered  to  the  ship  under  my  com- 
mand. 

Considering  the  advantages  derived  by  the  enemy  from  having  a 
divided  and  more  active  force,  as  also  the  superiority  in  the  weight 
and  number  of  their  guns,  I  deem  the  speedy  and  decisive  result  of  this 
action,  the  strongest  assurance  which  can  be  given  to  the  Government, 
that  all  under  my  command  did  their  duty,  and  gallantly  supported  the 
reputation  of  American  seamen. 

Enclosed  you  will  receive  the  minutes  of  the  action,  and  a  list  of  the 
killed  and  wounded  on  board  this  ship :  also,  enclosed  you  will  receive 
for  your  information,  a  statement  of  the  actual  force  of  the  enemy,  and 
the  number  killed  and  wounded  on  board  their  ships,  as  near  as  could 
be  ascertained. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 
Signed,  CHARLES  STEWART. 

To  Hon.  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Washington. 

Captain  Stewart  proceeded  with  these  prizes  to  the  Island  of  St. 
Jago,  one  of  the  Cape  de  Verd  Islands,  with  a  view  to  divest  his  ship  of 
the  numerous  prisoners,  consisting  of  the  officers,  seamen,  and  marines 


24 

of  both  ships  of  the  enemy,  amounting  to  nearly  four  hundred.  While 
making  arrangements  for  despatching  them  at  Port  Praya,  for  Barba- 
does,  the  British  squadron,  consisting  of  the  ships  of  war  the  Acasta,  of 
fifty  guns,  the  New  Castle,  of  sixty-four  guns,  and  the  Leander,  of  sixty- 
four  guns,  under  the  command  of  Sir  George  Collier,  reached  his  position 
under  cover  of  a  thick  fog.  Notwithstanding  their  near  approach, 
Captain  Stewart  determined  to  retreat,  and  immediately  the  Constitution 
and  her  prizes  cut  their  cables  and  crowded  sail  to  escape.  He  was 
fortunate  in  being  able,  by  his  skilful  management  and  manoeuvres,  to 
save  from  their  grasp  his  favourite  frigate  Constitution,  and  the  Cyane. 
The  Levant  was  captured  by  the  squadron,  and  sent  to  Barbadoes. 

After  this  escape,  he  proceeded  with  the  Constitution  to  Maranam, 
in  the  Brazils,  and  landed  the  prisoners,  refreshed  his  crews,  refitted  his 
vessel,  and  returned  to  Boston,  where  he  and  his  officers  were  received 
with  the  usual  courtesies  by  their  fellow  citizens.  On  his  way  through 
New  York,  the  Common  Council  honored  Captain  Stewart  with  the 
freedom  of  their  city,  in  a  gold  box,  and  extended  towards  him  and  his 
officers  the  courteous  hospitalities  of  that  great  city,  by  a  public  dinner. 

New  York,  June  21, 1815. 

SIR — In  communicating  to  you  the  enclosed  resolution  of  the  Com- 
mon Council  of  the  City  of  New  York,  I  beg  leave  to  add  the  expres- 
sion of  my  highest  respect,  and  to  request  information  when  the  Com- 
mon Council  can  have  the  pleasure  of  meeting  you,  for  the  purpose  of 
carrying  into  effect  the  object  of  the  resolution. 

The  delay  of  this  communication  has  arisen  from  the  daily  expecta- 
tion of  your  arrival  in  this  city. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  with  great  respect, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

JNO.  FERGUSON. 
CHARLES  STEWART,  Esq.,  Com.  U.  S.  Frigate  Constitution. 

On  his  arrival  in  Philadelphia,  the  legislature  of  his  native  State 
(Pennsylvania)  voted  him  their  thanks,  and  directed  his  Excellency  the 
Governor  to  cause  a  gold-hilted  sword  to  be  presented  to  Captain  Stew- 
art, in  testimony  of  their  sense  of  his  distinguished  merits  in  capturing 
the  British  ships  of  war  of  superior  force,  the  Cyane  and  the  Levant. 

Philadelphia,  August  8th,  1817. 

SIR: — Charged  by  his  Excellency,  Simon  Snyder,  Governor  of  the 
Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania,  with  the  presentation  to  you  of  a 
sword,  and  other  testimonials  of  the  grateful  sense  entertained  of  your 
distinguished  services,  I  will  thank  you  to  apprise  me  when  and  where 
I  can  have  the  honor  of  an  interview  with  you  for  that  purpose. 
With  sentiments  of  high  consideration  and  esteem, 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

WM.  DUNCAN,  Aid-de-Camp. 
Captain  CHARLES  STEWART. 


25 

On  the  meeting  of  Congress,  the  assembled  representatives  of  the 
nation  passed  a  vote  of  thanks  to  Captain  Stewart,  his  officers,  and 
crew;  and  resolved  that  a  suitable  gold  medal,  commemorative  of  that 
brilliant  event,  the  capture  of  the  two  British  ships  of  war,  the  Cyane 
and  Levant,  by  the  Constitution,  should  be  presented  to  Captain  Stew- 
art, in  testimony  of  the  sense  they  entertained  of  his  gallantry,  and 
that  of  his  officers,  seamen,  and  marines,  under  his  command  on  that 
occasion. 

Navy  Department,  February  10th,  1820. 

SIR:— In  compliance  with  a  resolution  of  the  Congress  of  the  United 
States,  the  President  directs  me  to  present  to  you  a  gold  medal,  in  tes- 
timony of  the  high  sense  entertained  by  Congress  of  your  gallantry  and 
good  conduct  and  services  in  the  capture  of  the  British  vessels  of  war, 
the  Cyane  and  Levant,  after  a  brave  and  skilful  combat. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

SMITH  THOMSON. 
Commodore  CHARLES  STEWART,  U.  S.  Navy. 

The  war  having  terminated  with  Great  Britain,  the  Constitution  was 
put  out  of  commission,  and  laid  up  in  ordinary.  In  1816,  Captain  Stew- 
art was  placed  in  command  of  the  Franklin  ship  of  the  line,  of  seventy- 
four  guns,  and  in  1817,  she  was  fitted  out  at  Philadelphia  as  the  flag 
ship  of  Commodore  Stewart,  who  was  directed  to  take  command  of  the 
American  squadron  in  the  Mediterranean  sea.  In  November,  1817, 
he  sailed  for  England,  to  convey  the  Hon.  Richard  Rush  as  minister  to 
the  court  of  Great  Britain,  who  was  landed  there  in  the  latter  part  of 
December,  after  which  the  Franklin  proceeded  to  the  Mediterranean, 
and  Commodore  Stewart  took  command  of  the  forces  of  the  United 
States  in  that  sea. 

In  a  profound  state  of  peace  with  all  the  world,  there  was  no  farther 
field  for  the  Commodore  to  exhibit  his  talents,  skill,  and  chivalry,  which 
a  state  of  war  calls  forth;  but  here  we  must  view  him  in  a  new  and 
different  situation  from  the  former,  controlling  a  formidable  force,  pre- 
serving its  discipline  amongst  the  officers  and  crews,  corresponding  with 
various  governments,  their  most  distinguished  men,  our  own  ministers 
and  consuls  in  Europe  and  in  Africa,  preserving  our  relations  with  all 
the  Barbary  powers  in  particular,  placing  his  forces  in  such  attitudes 
as  effectually  kept  them  in  check,  and  restraining  any  disposition  in  the 
king  of  Spain  to  retaliate  on  our  commerce  the  seizure  of  his  possessions 
in  Florida  by  our  national  troops  under  General  Jackson — conveying  to 
our  government  the  earliest  and  most  important  intelligence,  growing 
out  of  the  revolutionary  disposition  of  the  Spanish  and  Italian  (Neapo- 
litan) reformers  and  patriots;  cultivating  the  good  disposition  of  the 
surrounding  governments  and  people,  protecting  their  commerce  and 
our  own  from  piratical  depredations,  and  relieving  their  vessels  and 
4 


26 

crews  from  disasters  and  distress;  receiving  and  entertaining  on  board 
his  magnificent  ship,  the  princes,  nobility,  and  monarchs  of  the  adjacent 
kingdoms — all  this  called  forth  an  energy  and  diversity  of  tact  and  cha- 
racter which  few  men  are  fortunate  enough  to  combine,  but  was,  in  this 
instance,  fully  developed,  to  the  lasting  advantage  of  his  country,  the 
honor  of  the  navy,  and  the  approbation  of  his  fellow  citizens. 

Commodore  Stewart  proceeded  to  Naples  Bay  with  the  squadron  un- 
der his  command,  at  which  city  the  Emperor  of  Austria  had  arrived, 
with  his  court,  on  a  tour  through  the  south  of  Europe.  The  Marquis 
Chercheli,  prime  minister  to  the  king  of  the  Sicilies,  sent  an  invitation 
to  the  Commodore  to  attend  a  grand  fete  to  be  given  the  Emperor,  at 
the  king's  villa.  This  was  accepted,  and  the  opportunity  was  embraced 
by  the  Commodore,  to  invite  their  majesties  to  visit  the  ships  of  war 
under  his  command,  to  which  they  readily  assented.  They  came  on 
board  the  Franklin  seventy-four,  where  they  were  received  with  manned 
yards  and  a  royal  salute,  and  were  entertained  in  the  most  courtly 
manner  by  the  Commodore  and  the  officers  of  the  squadron. 

They  visited  every  part  of  the  ship,  and  expressed  themselves  highly 
gratified  with  their  reception ;  when  they  were  about  to  depart,  the 
Grand  Master  of  the  Empress,  mistaking  one  of  the  wind  sails  for  a 
mast,  attempted  to  support  himself  against  it  while  stepping  over  one 
of  the  hatchways ;  the  wind  sail,  yielding  to  the  pressure,  the  poor 
gentleman  was  precipitated  to  the  lowest  deck — his  ankle  was  unfortu- 
nately broken,  and  he  was  otherwise  severely  injured.  Immediately, 
all  was  consternation  with  the  party;  he  was  taken  into  the  wardroom, 
and  his  ankle  set  by  Doctor  Salter,  the  surgeon  of  the  ship,  with  a  ra- 
pidity and  skill  which  called  forth  the  admiration  of  their  majesties, 
who  were  much  attached  to  the  unfortunate  member  of  their  house- 
hold. 

The  delay  caused  by  this  untoward  event  detained  the  party  after 
night,  when  they  all  returned  to  the  shore.  It  was  on  this  occasion  that 
the  Emperor  manifested  his  gratitude  for  the  attentions  and  skill  of 
Doctor  Salter,  and  directed  a  purse  of  gold  to  be  tendered  to  him, 
which  the  Doctor  politely  declined  receiving  for  a  professional  act  in 
the  cause  of  humanity.  This  conduct  contributed  to  raise  the  Ameri- 
can character  for  humanity  and  disinterestedness  as  much  as  the  exhibit 
of  the  high  order  and  discipline  of  the  squadron  had  done  to  impress  on 
their  majesties  and  their  courts,  the  progress  the  American  people  had 
made,  and  were  making,  to  future  naval  renown.  After  Commodore 
Stewart  had  thus  cultivated  the  kind  feelings  of  those  distant  nations 
towards  his  countrymen  and  their  commercial  enterprises,  the  squadron 
left  the  bay  of  Naples,  and  proceeded  to  exhibit  themselves  to  the  Bar- 
bary  powers,  with  a  similar  view. 

In  1820,  the  Franklin  returned  to  the  United  States,  and  remained 
in  ordinary  until  the  following  year,  when  she  was  again  fitted  for  ser- 
vice in  the  Pacific,  and  Commodore  Stewart  placed  in  command.  Out 


27 

of  the  revolt  of  the  colonies  of  Spain,  in  South  America,  there  had 
arisen  danger  to  our  commercial  and  whaling  enterprises  in  the  Pacific 
and  on  its  coasts,  which  seemed  to  admonish  the  government  that  noth- 
ing but  an  imposing  force  would  avail;  yet  such  was  the  nature  and 
delicacy  of  the  service,  originating  in  the  attitude  of  the  hostile  parties, 
the  obligations  of  the  United  States  towards  Spain  (one  of  them)  under 
the  laws  of  nations  and  treaty  stipulations,  and  on  the  other  hand,  the 
sympathy  of  the  people  of  the  United  States  for  the  struggling  patriots 
and  their  cause,  whose  independence  and  power  had  not  yet  been  ac- 
knowledged; with  a  disposition,  on  their  part,  to  seize  on  neutral  com- 
merce under  every  frivolous  pretext,  and  thereby  acquire  the  means  of 
carrying  on  the  war;  while,  at  the  same  time,  the  United  States  were 
not  disposed  to  hazard  their  peaceful  attitude  with  either  belligerent — 
this  situation  called  for  the  exercise  of  great  discretion,  and  imposed  on 
the  commander  a  necessity  for  exhibiting  great  prudence  and  firmness 
in  giving  efficient  protection  to  his  fellow-citizens,  their  commerce  and 
their  property;  while,  at  the  same  time,  he  had  to  guard  himself  against 
the  misrepresentations  of  those  who,  in  their  enthusiasm  for  the  cause 
of  either  party  to  which  they  became  wedded,  through  feelings  or  in- 
terest, had  lost  sight  of  their  own  honor,  and  involved,  in  some  measure, 
that  of  their  country. 

Thus,  placed  between  these  excited  and  hostile  parties,  opposing  the 
interests  of  the  one,  and  the  high  policy  of  the  other,  in  giving  advice, 
countenance,  and  protection  to  his  countrymen,  and  the  interests  of  the 
state;  with  no  orders,  save  the  crude  and  undefined  laws  of  nations  as 
his  guide,  which  one  of  the  parties  held  at  naught,  as  they  were  not 
yet  admitted  into  the  great  family  of  nations,  and  the  other  opposed  by 
their  policy  and  their  laws  of  the  Indies,  the  Commodore  could  not  be 
long  in  discovering  the  very  critical  attitude  he  had  been  placed  in,  the 
arduous  duties  he  had  to  encounter,  and  the  reputation  which  he  risked 
on  the  occasion. 

To  yield  protection  was  an  imperative  duty — that  complaints  would 
ensue  there  was  no  doubt,  and  that  the  prejudices  and  sympathies  of 
his  countrymen,  their  agents,  and  the  press,  would  join  in  the  general 
clamor,  there  was  every  probability;  and  that  this  would  lead  to  un- 
pleasant results,  he  could  not  question,  knowing  how  much  the  Execu- 
tive Government  lacked  firmness  when  the  general  voice  impugned  the 
acts  of  their  officers,  and  how  willingly  they  avoid  every  responsibility 
of  the  acts  of  their  national  forces. 

In  thus  casting  a  glance  at  his  perplexing  position,  he  determined  on 
his  course — that  which  patriotism,  duty,  and  honor  alone  could  point 
out.  To  yield  every  protection,  to  break  down  lawless  blockades,  and 
with  them  the  Patriots'  pretexts  for  plundering  and  sweeping  our  com- 
merce from  the  Pacific  sea,  to  interpose  his  forces  and  efforts  in  the  re- 
straining of  the  piracies  and  robberies  of  the  buccaneers  claiming  the 
protection  of  the  Spanish  flag. 


28 

The  following  letter  was  written  in  conformity  with  the  foregoing 
principles,  to  General  Sucre,  the  Civil  and  Military  Commander-in- 
Chief. 

[Copy.] 

U.  8.  Ship  Franklin,  Callao  Bay,  July  14,  1823. 
To  His  Excellency,  General  Sucre, 

Civil  and  Military  Cornmander-in- Chief,  at  Callao. 

The  letter  your  Excellency  did  me  the  honor  to  write  me  on  the 
eighth  instant,  in  reply  to  mine  of  the  thirtieth  ultimo,  has  been  duly 
received.  It  does  not,  pe/haps,  belong  to  me  to  discuss  the  principles 
your  Excellency  contends  for,  with  respect  to  the  declared  blockade  of 
the  western  coast  of  Peru  by  the  Patriot  Government;  it  may  only  be- 
long to  me  to  notify  my  respectful  protest  against  its  illegal  and  inju- 
rious operations,  so  far  as  the  commerce  of  the  Republic  of  North  Ame- 
rica is  concerned,  and  in  compliance  with  my  orders  to  guard  it  against 
those  effects,  leaving  the  principles  and  points  contended  for  to  the  dis- 
cussion of  the  two  Governments.  But  the  Government  of  Peru  may 
have  been  led  into  an  error  on  that  subject,  by  the  infraction  of  those 
principles  of  the  laws  of  nations,  during  the  late  wars  in  Europe,  be- 
tween France  and  England,  and  then  for  the  first  time  adopted  by  Great 
Britain,  and,  as  your  Excellency  stales,  not  opposed  by  her  commanders 
on  this  station.  If  I  bring  to  the  notice  of  your  Excellency  some  im- 
portant facts,  out  of  the  strict  line  of  duty  attaching  to  my  command, 
I  hope  and  trust  your  Excellency  will  do  me  the  favor  to  believe  that 
it  only  originates  in  a  strong  desire  to  guard  our  respective  rights,  and 
to  preserve  a  lasting  harmony  between  the  Governments. 

After  the  commencement  of  hostilities  between  Great  Britain  and 
France  in  '92,  so  long  as  it  was  the  interest  of  England,  and  during  the 
existence  of  the  marine  of  several  European  powers,  that  Government 
observed  and  applied  the  principles  of  the  laws  of  nations  to  all  the 
blockades  instituted.  But  when  she  had  destroyed,  in  turn,  the  marine 
of  the  other  European  powers,  her  policy  was  then  changed.  Inter- 
national law  was  rejected,  honor  and  common  honesty  were  abandoned  ; 
power  gave  right,  and  a  war  of  destruction  was  waged  against  the 
unoffending  neutral ;  commerce  was  given  up  to  its  cormorant  rapacity, 
and  that  which  escaped  its  talons,  she  forced  her  open  enemies  to  prey 
on,  under  pretext  of  retaliation.  Against  such  principles,  I  need  not 
now  remind  your  Excellency,  the  United  States  resisted,  even  with 
England,  successfully,  and  as  the  Republic  of  the  North  was  the  first 
to  contend  for  just  principles  in  the  late  war,  she  was  also  found  the  last 
in  the  field  defending  them. 

The  conclusions  your  Excellency  has  drawn  from  the  tacit  conduct  of 
the  British  Naval  Commanders  on  this  station,  are  not  applicable  to  the 
United  States,  and  perhaps  those  commanders  may  not  be  instructed  to 
interfere  with  any  kind  of  blockade  the  Patriot  Government  may  deem 


29 

proper  to  impose,  especially  one  founded  on  principles  so  lately  and 
newly  exercised  by  themselves.  England,  the  most  politic  nation,  has 
always  been  guided  in  her  conduct  towards  others,  by  principles  of  policy 
and  interest  often  times  just,  but  as  often  at  variance  with  justice  and 
previous  conduct.  She  may  reserve  to  herself  the  right  of  discussing,  and 
demanding  indemnification  of  the  Patriot  Government  hereafter,  for  any 
violation  of  her  rights,  to  preserve  a  future  cause  of  quarrel  with  these 
governments, toobtain  some  exclusive  commercial  advantage  as  indemnity 
hereafter,  to  apply  the  same  rule  to  the  commerce  of  this  country  in  her 
future  wars.  Whatever  infraction  of  her  rights  she  may  deem  proper  to 
tacitly  acquiesce  in  now,  does  not  and  can  not  constitute  a  reason  that  the 
government  of  the  United  States  should  also  yield  theirs.  Your  Excel- 
lency very  justly  observes  that  a  blockade  declared  by  the  commanders 
of  a  ship  of  the  line  or  a  schooner,  legally  commissioned  for  war,  does 
not  import  less  in  the  one  case  than  the  other,  and  it  will  be  but  just  to 
add,  that  the  declaration  of  a  blockade,  originating  in  their  will, 
imports  nothing. 

The  commander  of  a  ship  of  war,  or  commander  in  chief  of  a 
squadron,  can  institute  a  blockade  in  very  distant  seas — the  urgency 
and  necessity  of  the  case  renders  it  legal.  The  act  of  a  belligerant 
involving  certain  rights  of  a  friend  is  an  act  of  sovereignty  ;  it  belongs 
to  that  authority  to  declare  it,  and  only  to  the  commanders  to  carry  it 
into  effect.  But  the  belligerant's  right,  and  will,  to  do  so,  and  the  decla- 
ration of  it,  does  not  constitute  the  act,  unless  combined  with  an  object 
that  is  legitimate,  and  a  force  competent  to  sustain  it.  With  respect  to 
the  legitimacy  of  the  object,  that  can  only  exist  in  depriving  your  enemy 
of  all  external  means  of  annoying  you,  and  external  resources  of  con- 
tinuing the  war,  and  is  in  a  great  measure  dependent  on  their  actual 
situation ;  hence  the  right  of  the  neutral  to  introduce  all  articles  of  a 
perfectly  innocent  nature,  and  which  do  not  contribute  any  thing 
towards  carrying  on  the  war.  It  would  be  preposterous  to  blockade  a 
port,  by  sea,  against  the  entrance  of  provisions,  which  has  an  extensive 
and  abundant  country  adjoining  to  supply  it.  In  such  a  case  the  belli- 
gerant would  only  be  injuring  a  common  friend,  without  prejudice  to  his 
enemy :  this  the  law  of  nations  forbids  his  doing ;  but  on  the  other 
hand,  where  a  possibility  exists  of  your  reducing  your  enemies  to  terms, 
by  excluding  such  provisions,  your  right  is  legitimate  to  do  so,  and  the 
injury  done  the  neutral  is  accidental. 

With  respect  to  the  competency  of  the  force,  it  will  depend  on  the 
localities  of  the  port  or  ports  blockaded,  and  not  on  the  size  of  the 
vessels,  or  the  weight  or  number  of  their  guns — with  this  neutrals  have 
nothing  to  do ;  it  is  sufficient  for  them  that  the  place  is  susceptible  of 
being  blockaded,  and  the  force  applied  is  of  such  description  and  so 
stationed,  as  to  render  it  extremely  hazardous  to  enter :  so  also  with 
respect  to  the  force  of  your  enemy  ;  if  he  possess  a  thousand  ships  of 
war  more  than  the  blockading  power,  and  does  not  see  proper  to  drive 


30 

it  from  his  ports,  it  is  effectual  against  the  neutral  so  long  as  that 
blockade  preserves  and  does  not  voluntarily  abandon  its  stations. 

A  blockade  originally  legitimate  and  legally  instituted,  may  derive 
an  opposite  character  from  the  conduct  oi  the  belligerant  blockading. 
Thus  the  forces  stationed  to  carry  it  into  effect,  negligently  and  partially 
executing  it,  the  Government  contravening  its  legitimate  object,  and  by 
partiality  or  licence  permitting  one  or  two  neutral  flags  to  trade  while 
all  others  are  excluded,  thereby  rendering  it  a  subject  of  convenience 
to  themselves,  or  a  source  of  tribute  to  their  coffers.  Admitting,  in 
consequence  of  the  localities  of  the  Western  coast  of  Peru,  that  it  be 
susceptible  of  blockade  by  as  small  or  a  smaller  force  than  the  same 
extent  of  coast  in  any  other  part  of  the  world,  yet  the  whole  naval 
force  of  Peru,  even  if  actually  engaged  in  that  service,  is  not  a  compe- 
tent force  for  the  blockade  of  a  coast,  eight  hundred  miles  in  extent, 
and  containing  very  many  ports  and  harbors.  I,  however,  believe  very 
little  of  the  naval  force  of  Peru  has  been  employed  on  that  service,  and 
in  fact  this  extensive  blockade  has  often  been  left  for  months,  with  no 
other  vessel  beyond  a  schooner ;  and  also  there  can  no  doubt  exist,  of 
exclusive  privileges  having  been  given  by  the  Government  of  Peru  to 
particular  persons  and  flags,  to  trade  by  licence,  with  this  coast  declared 
under  blockade. 

The  principles  here  contended  for,  the  United  States  are  also  contend- 
ing for  with  Spain  in  the  North  Atlantic,  where  they  operate  in  favor 
of  the  Patriot  Government.  It  would  be  absurd  for  the  government  of 
Spain,  to  declare  under  blockade,  and  the  operation  of  the  laws  of  the 
Indies,  the  whole  coast  of  Chili,  Peru,  and  Mexico ;  and  as  the  most 
susceptible  and  convenient  mode  of  sustaining  that  declaration,  to  cause 
a  naval  force,  superior  to  that  of  the  Patriots,  to  cruize  to  the  westward 
of  Cape  Horn,  and  there  arrest  every  vessel  coming  or  going,  under 
pretext  of  violating  the  laws  of  the  Indies  and  blockade  of  the  coasts — 
yet  this  conduct  on  their  part,  would  not  be  less  effectual  or  more  absurd 
than  the  blockade  of  an  extensive  coast  by  the  Patriots,  without  any 
thing  like  an  adequate  naval  force  to  sustain  it. 

I  pray  your  Excellency  to  accept  the  assurance  of  the  high  respect 
and  consideration,  with  which 

I  have  the  honor  to  remain, 

Your  Excellency's  most  obedient, 

Very  humble  servant, 
Signed,  CHARLES  STEWART. 

On  the  receipt  of  the  foregoing  letter,  the  blockade  was  immediately 
annulled. 

The  reader  will  here  contrast,  by  the  following  address  of  his  country- 
men residing  abroad  and  on  the  very  coast  where  Commodore  Stewart's 
command  extended,  the  difference  of  their  opinion  of  his  acts  and  con- 
duct and  that  entertained  of  him  by  some  of  his  countrymen  at  home. 


31 

Lima,  May  2d,  1824 
To  Commodore  Charles  Stewart, 
Commander-in-Chief  of  the 

U.  S.  Naval  Forces  in  the  Pacific. 

SIR: — Impressed  with  a  high  sense  of  the  zeal  and  ability  you  have 
manifested  in  the  cause  of  your  country,  during  a  period  of  upwards  of 
twenty-six  years  of  public  service,  the  undersigned  citizens  of  the 
United  States,  at  present  residing  or  transacting  business  in  Lima,  beg 
leave  respectfully  to  express  to  you  their  sense  of  your  conduct  in  the 
command  on  this  coast  you  are  now  about  to  leave.  The  duties  you 
have  had  to  perform  have  been  no  less  arduous  than  various,  from  the 
peculiar  situation  of  the  countries  to  which  your  command  extended. 
You  arrived  at  a  time  when  the  revolutionary  governments  of  Peru  and 
Chili,  intoxicated  with  success,  and  regardless  of  every  principle  of 
national  law,  preyed  upon  the  unoffending  neutral  at  will.  By  your 
firmness,  their  rapacity  was  restrained,  and  by  your  skill,  their  friendly 
relations,  which  our  government  is  so  anxious  to  maintain,  has  remained 
unimpaired. 

We  are  grateful  to  acknowledge  the  readiness  with  which  you  have 
at  all  times  listened  to  the  complaints  or  wishes  of  your  countrymen,  and 
the  promptness  with  which  you  have  afforded  them  all  the  protection 
your  situation  would  permit. 

With  these  feelings,  which  are  as  sincere  on  our  part  as  they  are  well 
founded,  we  look  with  peculiar  regret  to  your  departure ;  and  especially 
at  this  moment,  when  circumstances  so  strongly  demand  rather  the 
increase  than  diminution  of  force  on  this  station. 

Within  a  few  days,  an  unauthorized  blockade  has  been  declared 
under  the  flag  of  a  country  which,  in  reality,  has  no  longer  any 
existence,  and  which,  therefore,  leaves  us  without  the  smallest  hope  of 
future  reparation  for  any  wrongs  it  may  inflict  on  us.  The  experience 
you  have  acquired  during  your  long  command  in  this  ocean,  and  the 
imposing  force  of  the  Franklin,  would  obviously  be  of  the  greatest  utility 
to  the  distinguished  officer  who  has  come  to  succeed  you,  and  your 
remaining  here  a  very  short  period  would  greatly  facilitate  his  future 
operations. 

With  these  views,  and  under  the  urgency  of  circumstances  which  have 
so  recently  arisen,  we  most  earnestly  hope  that  you  may  be  induced  to 
delay  your  departure  for  a  short  period ;  since,  by  so  doing,  the  new 
danger  that  threatens  the  extinction  of  our  commerce  may  in  all  pro- 
bability be  removed.  The  amount  of  interest  at  stake,  the  distant 
position  of  our  country,  and  the  threatening  evils  to  which  we  allude, 
all  seem  to  us  to  require  it ;  and  we  have,  therefore,  no  doubt  they  will 
justify  to  our  government  your  remaining  a  few  weeks  longer.  Perhaps 
a  few  days  only  may  dissipate  the  dangers  that  are  gathering.  You  may 
in  this  case  probably  have  the  satisfaction  of  having  contributed  to  save 
a  large  amount  of  property  to  your  fellow-citizens,  of  which,  if  they 


32 

are  despoiled,  neither  they  nor  their  government  have  any  power  to  look 
to  for  future  compensation. 

Whatever  may  be  your  determination,  we  offer  to  you  our  most 
cordial  wishes  for  your  safe  return  to  your  country,  where,  we  feel  sat- 
isfied, you  will   receive   the  approbation  from  your  government  and 
fellow-citizens,  which  your  long  and  efficient  services  so  justly  merit. 
We  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir, 

Your  friends  and  fellow-citizens, 
Daniel  W.  Coit,  J.  A.  Stevenson, 

Wm.  H.  Conkling,  Joseph  M'Comb, 

Jno.  C.  Green,  Rosman  Lawrence, 

Samuel  Erwin,  Jos.  James, 

Russell  Baldwin,  James  Bradly, 

Moses  Gibbs,  J.  M.  Sebor, 

Ambrose  H.  Burrows,  Jno.  Donnell, 

Perry  Bowers,  Charles  Manchester, 

William  Johnson,  Jr.  J.  Jones, 

Henry  L.  Dekoven,  Nixon  &,  M'Call. 

Hiram  Putnam, 

On  returning  to  the  country  he  had  so  nobly  served,  Commodore 
Stewart  was  subjected  to  a  degrading  arrest  for  one  year,  and  to  the 
costs  of  an  expensive  court  martial.  An  acquittal,  more  honorable 
than  the  records  of  any  naval  tribunal  can  furnish,  was  the  result  ac- 
corded him,  under  the  oath  of  twelve  of  his  brother  officers,  distin- 
guished for  their  patriotism,  valor,  experience,  and  fidelity  to  their 
country  and  their  corps. 

Navy  Department,  5th  September,  1825. 

SIR: — I  inclose  to  you  the  judgment  of  the  Court-martial,  which 
the  President  of  the  United  States  has  approved,  acquitting  you  most 
honorably  of  all  the  charges  which  have  been  made  against  you,  and 
of  which  the  government  has  been  apprized,  while  you  commanded  the 
squadron  in  the  Pacific.  The  number  and  nature  of  the  charges,  and 
the  character  of  those  who  presented  them,  were  such,  that  an  inquiry 
was  demanded  by  your  own  honor,  and  the  duty,  which  the  govern- 
ment owed  to  itself  and  the  interest  of  the  nation.  The  result  of  the 
investigation  has  been  satisfactory  to  the  Executive,  will  be  useful  to 
the  public,  and  honorable  to  yourself.  It  has  furnished  a  conclusive 
answer  to  public  and  private  accusation,  and  redeemed  your  fame  from 
reproach — a  fame  heretofore  dear  to  your  country,  and  hereafter  to 
become  still  more  precious. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  &c., 

SAMUEL  L.  SOUTHARD. 
Captain  CHARLES  STEWART, 
U.  S.  Navy,  Washington. 

At  a  general  Court  Martial,  convened  at  the  city  of  Washington,  on 


33 

the  eighteenth  day  of  August,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand, 
eight  hundred  and  twenty-five,  by  virtue  of  a  precept  from  the  honor- 
able the  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  bearing  date  the  seventeenth  day  of  Au- 
gust instant: 

Present — Captain  James  Barren,  President;  Captains  William  M. 
Crane,  Robert  T.  Spence,  John  D.  Henley,  Jesse  D.  Elliott,  Stephen 
Cassin,  James  Renshaw,  Thomas  Brown,  Charles  C.  B.  Thompson,  Al- 
exander S.  Wadsworth,  George  W.  Rogers,  and  George  C.  Reed, 
Members;  and  Richard  S.  COXE,  Judge  Advocate. 

This  court,  having  fully  and  maturely  investigated  the  matters  sub- 
mitted to  it  in  the  case  of  Captain  Charles  Stewart,  and  considered  the 
charges  and  specifications,  the  evidence  and  the  defence  of  the  accused, 
proceeded  this  third  day  of  September,  in  the  year  aforesaid,  to  which 
time  the  court  had  been  adjourned,  from  day  to  day,  (o  determine  upon 
the  same.  And  after  such  deliberation,  it  is  of  opinion  that  the  first 
and  second  specifications  of  the  first  charge  are  not  proved,  that  the 
third  specification  is  so  far  proved,  as  it  alleges  that  the  said  Captain 
Stewart  did  prevent  the  captain  of  the  Peruvian  brig  Belgrano  from 
taking  and  sending  in  for  adjudication,  the  American  ship,  the  Canton, 
then  engaged  in  a  lawful  trade;  that  in  so  doing  the  said  Charles  Stew- 
art was  acting  in  strict  obedience  to  his  duty,  as  indicated  both  in  his 
instructions  and  by  the  laws  of  nations;  and  that  his  conduct  on  this  oc- 
casion was  highly  meritorious  and  praiseworthy.  The  court  is  also  of 
opinion  that  the  residue  of  the  specification  is  not  proved.  The  court 
is  also  of  opinion  that  the  fourth,  fifth,  sixth,  seventh,  eighth  and  ninth 
specifications  are  not  proved.  It  is  of  opinion  that  the  tenth  specification 
is  so  far  proved  as  it  alleges  the  purchase  of  the  articles  therein  men- 
tioned to  have  been  made  from  the  Canton,  but  the  court  is  decidedly 
of  opinion  that  there  was  no  impropriety  in  the  act,  that  it  was  proper 
and  correct,  and  that  the  residue  of  the  specification  is  not  proved. 

In  relation  to  the  eleventh  specification,  the  court  is  of  opinion  that 
it  is  so  far  proved  as  it  relates  to  the  employment  of  the  carpenters  and 
other  persons  attached  to  the  Franklin,  in  the  manner  stated,  but  it  is 
also  of  opinion  that  such  employment  was,  in  all  cases  to  which  the 
proof  reaches,  proper,  consonant  to  the  practice  of  the  service,  and  in 
every  view  perfectly  unobjectionable;  and  that  the  residue  of  the  spe- 
cification is  not  proved.  The  twelfth  specification  is  not  proved.  The 
thirteenth  is  so  far  proved  as  that  it  is  shown  by  the  testimony  that  the 
said  Eliphalet  Smith  was  on  one  occasion  employed  as  a  matter  of  con- 
venience to  Captain  Stewart,  and  in  aid  of  the  public  interests,  to  carry 
a  despatch,  which  had  no  other  than  public  objects,  and  that  this  em- 
ployment of  Captain  Smith  was  designed  for  the  public  good,  and  had 
not  the  remotest  reference  to,  or  effect  upon,  any  other  interests,  and 
that  the  residue  of  the  specification  is  not  proved.  The  court  is  also 
of  opinion  that  the  fourteenth,  fifteenth  and  sixteenth  specifications 
5 


34 

are  not  proved.  The  seventeenth  is  so  far  proved  as  it  relates  to  the 
building  of  three  small  schooners,  with  the  aid  of  the  carpenters,  &c. 
of  the  Franklin,  but  not  out  of  government  property;  that  this  was  in 
the  judicious  and  faithful  exercise  of  an  unquestioned  right,  and  that 
the  individuals  thus  employed  were  thus  employed  by  their  own  free 
choice,  for  their  own  benefit,  and  compensated  for  their  labor.  It  is 
also  of  opinion  that  the  eighteenth  specification  is  proved,  but  the  act 
therein  alleged  is  in  conformity  with  the  practice  of  the  service,  in  ful- 
filment of  one  of  the  duties  which  public  vessels  owe  to  the  commer- 
cial interests  of  the  nation,  and  essentially  useful  and  necessary. 

In  the  circumstances  accompanying  this  particular  act,  it  was  whol- 
ly unobjectionable  and  not  attended  with  any  loss  or  injury  to  the  pub- 
lic. The  nineteeth  specification  is  also  proved  in  point  of  fact,  but 
this  likewise  is  deemed  by  the  court  one  of  those  acts  in  which  the 
convenience  and  comfort  of  those  engaged  in  commerce  may  be  essen- 
tially promoted  without  the  slightest  public  injury,  and  that  in  this  in- 
stance it  was  wholly  unobjectionable.  As  regards  the  twentieth,  twen- 
ty-first, twenty-second  and  twenty-third  specifications,  it  is  the  opinion 
of  the  court  that  the  said  Weaver  was  absent  from  the  Franklin,  with 
a  permission  granted  on  proper  and  sufficient  grounds,  till  the  arrival  of 
the  Franklin  at  Callao,  on  or  about  the  first  of  August,  1822,  that  sub- 
sequent to  this  period  he  was  absent  without  leave:  that  the  muster 
rolls  transmitted  to  the  department  did  not  precisely  accord  with  that 
on  board  the  Franklin,  but  the  variances  between  them  were  wholly 
immaterial,  such  as  could  not  have  been  designed,  because  not  calcu- 
lated to  produce  the  smallest  inconvenience  or  injury,  and  which  the 
court  believes  were  purely  accidental:  nor  can  the  court  perceive  any 
grounds  upon  which  to  attribute  this  mistake,  innocent  and  unimpor- 
tant as  it  was,  to  any  inadvertence  of  the  accused.  It  is  also  of  opin- 
ion that  the  muster  roll,  which  was  approved  in  November,  1824,  was 
approved  in  a  regular  manner,  and  at  a  proper  time;  that  the  entry 
contained  in  it  corresponded  with  the  fact,  and  with  the  information 
previously  communicated  to  the  department.  The  court  is  likewise  of 
opinion  that  the  twenty-fourth,  twenty-fifth,  twenty-sixth,  twenty-se- 
venth, twenty-eighth  and  twenty-ninth,  the  only  remaining  specifica- 
tions of  the  first  charge,  are  not,  nor  is  either  of  them,  proved,  and  it 
does  adjudge  and  declare  that  the  said  Charles  Stewart  is  NOT  GUILTY 
of  the  first  charge. 

The  court  is  also  of  opinion  that  the  first,  third,  fourth,  fifth,  sixth, 
and  seventh  specifications  of  the  second  charge  are  not  proved,  and 
that  the  second  specification  is  only  so  far  proved  as  is  set  forth  in  the 
opinion  of  the  court  upon  the  third  specification  of  the  first  charge,  and 
therefore  does  pronounce  and  adjudge  that  the  said  Charles  Stewart  is 
NOT  GUILTY  of  the  second  charge. 

The  facts  set  forth  in  the  first  specification  of  the  third  charge  have 
already  been  passed  upon  by  the  court,  in  its  opinion  upon  the  twen- 


35 

tieth  specification  of  the  first  charge,  and  reference  is  therefore  made 
to  the  finding  of  the  court  thereupon.  The  second  and  third  specifica- 
tions are  not  proved.  The  court  does  therefore  adjudge  and  declare 
that  the  said  Charles  Stewart  is  NOT  GUILTY  of  the  third  charge. 

In  relation  to  the  specification  of  the  fourth  charge,  it  is  the  opinion 
of  the  court  that  the  same  is  not  proved,  and  therefore  the  said  Charles 
Stewart  is  adjudged  and  declared  NOT  GUILTY  of  the  said  fourth 
charge. 

In  terminating  a  trial  which  has  awakened  so  general  and  so  deep 
an  interest,  and  submitting  the  result  to  the  Executive,  the  court  trusts 
that  the  peculiar  character  of  the  accusations  which  have  been  inves- 
tigated will  furnish  an  excuse  for  appending  to  the  record  a  few  re- 
marks. 

When  rumours  and  reports  are  widely  and  industriously  disseminated 
calculated  to  impair  the  high  standing  and  usefulness  of  an  officer  in 
whom  great  trust  and  confidence  have  been  reposed,  it  becomes  the 
duty  of  the  Executive  to  afford  to  such  officer,  by  the  convention  of  a 
proper  tribunal,  an  ample  opportunity  of  vindicating  himself  before  the 
world.  To  afford  this  opportunity  and  to  preserve  from  the  insidious 
effects  of  unmerited  reproach,  a  reputation  dear  to  the  nation — won 
by  the  honorable  services  of  seven  and  twenty  years — to  extinguish 
prejudices  and  suspicions  created  by  misrepresentations  or  misconcep- 
tions of  public  agents  and  private  individuals,  and  finally,  to  do  all 
which  the  laws,  which  justice,  and  which  honor  exact,  this  court  has 
been  convened. 

Charges  and  specifications  have  been  preferred  embracing  all  the  ac- 
cusations made  against  Captain  Stewart;  an  investigation  has  been 
made  into  their  truth;  it  has  been  conducted  by  the  judge  advocate  in 
the  most  exemplary  manner,  yet  with  a  minuteness  and  fulness  calcu- 
lated to  leave  no  doubt  or  cloud  of  suspicion  resting  upon  the  character 
of  the  accused.  This  investigation  has  produced  what  was  desired  by 
Captain  Stewart,  and  intended  by  the  Executive — a  development  of  all 
the  important  transactions  attending  the  late  cruise  of  the  Franklin  in 
the  Pacific,  and  the  principles  and  motives  which  guided  the  conduct 
of  her  commander.  These  charges  and  specifications  the  court  has 
adjudged  not  to  be  proved;  to  be  in  some  respects  utterly  groundless, 
and  in  others  to  have  originated  in  a  misconception  or  misrepresenta- 
tion of  the  most  innocent  and  meritorious  acts;  and  Captain  Stewart 
has  been  most  fully  and  most  honorably  acquitted  of  every,  even  the 
slightest  impropriety. 

The  court  however  conceives  that  the  peculiar  character  of  the  accu- 
sation is  such  that  it  would  not  render  that  full  measure  of  justice  which 
is  required  at  its  hands  by  a  simple  judgment  of  acquittal.  It  is  there- 
fore impelled  by  a  sense  of  duty  to  go  farther,  and  to  make  unhesitatingly 


this  declaration  to  the  world,  that  so  far  from  having  violated  the  high  du- 
ties of  neutrality  and  respect  for  the  laws  of  nations,so  far  from  having  sac- 
rificed the  honor  of  the  American  flag,  or  tarnished  his  own  fair  fame, 
by  acting  upon  any  motive  of  a  mercenary  or  sordid  kind;  so  far  from  hav- 
ing neglected  his  duty,  or  betrayed  the  trust  reposed  in  him  by  refus- 
ing proper  protection  to  American  citizens  and  property,  or  rendering 
such  protection  subservient  to  individual  interests,  no  one  circumstance 
has  been  developed  throughout  the  whole  course  of  this  minute  inves- 
tigation into  the  various  occurrences  of  a  three  years'  cruise,  calcula- 
ted to  impair  the  confidence  which  the  members  of  this  court,  the  navy, 
and  the  nation  have  long  reposed  in  the  honor,  the  talents,  and  the  pa- 
triotism of  this  distinguished  officer,  or  to  weaken  in  any  manner  the 
opinion  which  all  who  knew  him  entertained  of  his  humanity  and  dis- 
interestedness. These  virtues  only  glow  with  brighter  lustre  from  this 
ordeal  of  trial,  like  the  stars  he  triumphantly  displayed,  when  valor 
and  skill  achieved  a  new  victory  to  adorn  the  annals  of  our  naval 
glory. 

James  Barren,  President.  W.  M.  Crane, 

Robert  T.  Spence,  John  D.  Henley, 

J.  D.  Elliott,  S.  Cassin, 

James  Renshaw,  Thomas  Brown, 

Charles  C.  B.  Thompson,  Alex.  S.  Wadsworth, 

George  W.  Rogers,  George  C.  Read, 

Richard  S.  Coxe,  Judge  Advocate. 

The  proceedings  and  sentence  of  the  court  are  approved ;  with 
the  exception  of  the  exclusion  of  Samuel  Brown  as  an  incompetent 
witness.  The  grounds  of  objection  to  his  testimony  apparent  on  the 
face  of  the  record,  being  considered  as  going  to  his  credibility  and  not  to 
his  competency. 

JOHN  Q.UIXCY  ADAMS. 
Washington,  5th  September,  1825. 

On  Commodore  Stewart's  return  from  Washington,  where  his  trial 
took  place,  to  his  native  city,  (Philadelphia,)  his  friends  greeted  him 
with  a  public  dinner,  in  approbation  of  his  services  in  the  Pacific,  Dur- 
ing the  years  1825  to  1830,  he  was  variously  engaged  in  appropriate 
duties,  such  as  examining  Midshipmen,  and  sitting  on  Courts  Martial, 
&c.  &c. 

In  March  1830,  Commodore  Stewart  was  in  Washington,  and  while 
there  received  from  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  the  following  circular, 
enclosing  a  copy  of  the  resolutions  of  the  Senate  of  the  United  States. 

[CIRCULAR.] 

Navy  Department,  March  3d,  1830. 

SIR: — I  send  you  herewith  a  copy  of  a  resolution  of  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States  of  the  first  instant,  calling  for  information  relative  to  the 


37 

necessity  for  employing  marines  on  board  our  vessels  of  war,  and 
whether  seamen  could  not  be  usefully  substituted  in  their  place,  &c. 
and  have  to  request  that  you  will,  in  conformity  with  the  terms  of  the 
resolution,  furnish  me  with  your  opinion  in  writing,  upon  the  different 
points  embraced  by  it,  as  early  as  practicable. 

I  am,  respectfully,  sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  BRANCH. 
Com.  CHARLES  STEWART, 

United  States  Navy,  Washington  City. 

[COPY.] 

In  Senate  of  the  United  States,  March  1, 1830. 

RESOLVED, — That  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  be  directed  to  furnish 
to  this  House,  information  on  the  following  subjects  : 

Whether  it  is  necessary  to  the  armed  equipment  of  a  vessel  of  war, 
that  Marines  should  compose  a  part  of  its  military  force. 

Or  whether  marines  may  not  be  usefully  dispensed  with,  and  a  por- 
tion of  the  seamen  be  instructed  in  the  use  of  small  arms,  and  perform 
all  duties  which  can  be  required  of  marines,  either  in  battle  or  in  ordi- 
nary service. 

Whether  seamen  are  not  now  instructed  and  practised  in  the  use  of 
small  arms  ;  and  generally,  any  information  which  may  elucidate  the 
inquiry  whether  marines  can  or  can  not  be  beneficially  dispensed  with 
on  board  of  our  public  vessels  of  war. 

Whether  the  petty  officers  and  seamen  who  have  been  in  service,  but 
from  age  or  slight  disabilities,  are  rendered  unfit  for  the  active  duties  of 
their  calling  on  ship  board,  can  be  usefully  and  safely  employed  as  guards 
at  the  navy  stations,  in  lieu  of  the  marines  now  assigned  to  that  duty. 

And  farther,  that  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  obtain  from  the  officers 
composing  the  Navy  Board,  and  other  naval  officers  of  rank  now  in  the 
seat  of  Government,  their  opinions  in  writing  on  the  foregoing  subjects, 
to  be  transmitted  with  his  report  to  the  Senate.  Attest: 

Signed,  WALTER  LOWRIE. 

Washington,  March  8,  1830. 

SIR  : — I  have  had  the  honor  to  receive  your  letter  of  the  third  instant, 
covering  a  resolution  of  the  Senate  of  the  United  States  relative  to  the 
marine  corps,  requiring  information  on  the  following  points : 

FIRST.  Whether  it  is  necessary  that  "marines  should  compose  a  part 
of  the  military  force  of  a  ship  of  war?" 

To  this  I  answer,  that  I  do  conceive  them  proper,  and  necessary,  to 
constitute  a  part  of  the  crew  of  a  ship  of  war. 

SECOND.  "  Whether  marines  may  not  usefully  be  dispensed  with, 
and  a  portion  of  the  seamen  be  instructed  in  the  use  of  small  arms,  and 
perform  all  the  duties  which  may  be  required  of  marines  in  battle,  or 
on  ordinary  service?" 


574790 


38 

To  this  I  answer,  that,  for  the  mere  purposes  of  battle,  perhaps  the 
seamen  might  be  instructed,  in  a  limited  degree,  in  the  use  of  small 
arms. 

THIRD.  "  Whether  seamen  are  not  now  instructed  and  practised  in 
the  use  of  small  arms?" 

To  this  I  answer,  that  a  portion  of  the  crew  (other  than  the  marines) 
are  now,  and  always  have  been,  instructed  and  practised  in  the  use  of 
small  arms;  but  that  instruction  and  practice  is  very  limited,  as  it  neces- 
sarily must  be. 

FOURTH.  "  Whether  the  petty  officers  and  seamen  who  have  been 
in  service,  but,  from  age  or  slight  disabilities,  are  rendered  unfit  for  the 
active  duties  of  their  calling  on  ship -board,  can  be  usefully  and  safely 
employed  as  guards  at  the  navy  stations,  in  lieu  of  marines?" 

To  this  I  answer,  I  think  not ;  but  as  I  have  never  had  any  command 
or  control  over  a  navy  yard  or  station,  I  cannot  speak  to  this  question 
from  actual  experience.  The  foregoing  answers  would  seem  to  comprise 
all  the  honorable  the  Senate  of  the  United  States  require  on  this  sub- 
ject ;  acd  it  would  not  have  been  proper  to  go  farther,  were  it  not  for 
that  part  of  their  third  question,  requiring  also  any  general  information 
in  elucidation  of  the  object  of  the  resolution,  "  whether  marines  can,  or 
cannot  be  beneficially  dispensed  with  on  board  our  public  ships  of  war?'' 
Under  this  clause,  I  would  beg  leave  to  remark,  that  the  marines  are 
the  only  portion  of  the  crew  of  a  ship  of  war  that  is  wholly  military, 
and  the  only  part  which  could  be  rendered  such,  by  the  nature  of  the 
service,  as  well  as  the  nature  of  those  comprising  the  other  classes.  If, 
then,  it  is  at  all  desirable  or  useful  to  have  a  portion  of  the  force  of  a 
ship  of  war  wholly  and  completely  military,  that  portion  must  be  com- 
posed of  a  regularly  organized  infantry,  for  this  reason — that  the  sea 
officers,  from  their  employments  and  occupations  in  ships  of  war,  differ 
materially  from  military  officers,  because  the  ideas  and  general  habits 
of  sailors  unfit  them,  in  a  great  measure,  for  infantry  soldiers;  and 
because  the  limited  space  in  a  ship  of  war  would  not  admit  of  their 
training  ;  and  their  general  duty  and  employment  would  be  too  much 
deranged  and  interfered  with.  In  order  to  ascertain  the  necessity  and 
utility  of  having  a  portion  of  the  crew  of  a  ship  of  war  organized  as  in- 
fantry, it  will  be  necessary  to  inquire  into  the  object  and  duties  of  such 
a  corps. 

The  first  object  is,  to  instil  into  them  these  sound  military  principles — 
obedience,  subordination,  and  respect,  that  they  may  be  entitled  to 
confidence  in  the  discharge  of  their  duties  as  sentinels  to  watch  over 
your  magazines,  spirit-rooms,  store-rooms,  gangways,  galleys,  and  look- 
outs ;  to  preserve  order,  and  prevent  interruption  to  the  cooking  duties, 
and  to  guard  your  prisoners  of  war,  who  sometimes  outnumber  the 
crew.  In  port,  they  constitute  the  deck  guard,  and  at  sea  they  are  (at 
least,  a  large  portion  of  them,)  always  near  their  arms ;  thus  they  pre- 
vent surprise  from  without,  and  check  mutiny  within.  In  the  ordinary 


39 

duties  at  sea,  the  marine  watch  perform  the  same  duties  on  deck  which 
would  be  required  of  any  other  body  of  men,  except  going  aloft;  conse- 
quently, their  usefulness  and  force  as  men  are  not  lost ;  for  there  must 
be  some  men  kept  on  deck,  in  reefing  and  furling,  to  haul  the  rigging, 
and  manage  the  cordage  for  those  who  are  aloft.  In  battle,  when  the 
ship  is  engaged  on  both  sides,  or  when  otherwise  necessary,  they  can  be 
distributed  among  the  carriage  guns,  for  working  the  artillery. 

Should  any  operation,  wholly  military  be  required  of  them  on  shore, 
they  would  be  more  efficient  and  competent  to  its  performance.  Should 
the  combined  efforts  of  seamen  and  marines  be  required  for  the  surprise 
of  posts,  or  the  escalade  of  a  fortress,  the  marines,  as  a  supporting 
column  of  regular  infantry,  would  form  a  disciplined  body,  whereon  to 
rest  the  security  of  the  other  classes  who  are  appointed  to  make  the 
grand  effort,  and  would  yield  them  a  steady  column  and  military  sup- 
port in  case  of  failure,  when  they  would  constitute  the  reserve,  and 
cover  the  retreat  and  embarkation  of  the  seamen.  The  latter  are  a 
class  of  men,  whose  onset  and  first  efforts  are  tremendous  and  formida- 
ble ;  but,  if  resisted  and  discomfitted,  they  break  into  a  hundred  groups, 
which  cannot  be  rallied,  and  they  become  a  mere  mob,  who,  without  a 
body  of  regulars  to  sustain  them,  must  fall  a  sacrifice.  Seamen  have  a 
particular  aversion  to  the  infantry  drill,  and,  generally  speaking,  can  be 
brought  to  little  more  in  that  art  than  to  load  and  fire.  That  strict 
subordination  and  obedience  to  orders,  and  the  pride  of  feeling,  intuitive 
in  a  regular  soldier,  cannot  be  attained  by  a  seaman ;  hence  the  entire 
confidence  of  the  officers,  for  the  performance  of  the  ordinary  duties  on 
posts,  cannot  be  yielded  them  ;  frequent  punishments  would  ensue  for 
neglect  and  irregularities,  and  disgust  to  the  service  would  follow.  But, 
sir,  there  is  another  evil  in  attempting  to  make  marines  of  sailors:  the 
scarcity  of  seamen,  and  ordinary  seamen,  would  embarrass  more  and 
more  the  manning  of  our  ships  of  war,  if  those  who  act  as  marines  be 
substituted  from  the  other  classes. 

To  take  them  from  landsmen,  no  advantage  would  be  gained  as 
regards  the  increased  nautical  efficiency  of  our  ships;  but  much  would 
be  lost  with  respect  to  the  military  portion — we  should  have  the  men 
without  the  seamen's  or  the  soldier's  profession.  In  the  above  observa- 
tions, I  have  referred  to  the  possibility  of  mutiny  in  our  national  ships 
of  war.  That  mutiny  has  occurred  in  our  navy,  there  is  no  doubt. — 
One  instance  took  place  on  board  the  Constitution,  in  the  Bay  of  Leg- 
horn, in  the  year  1807.  The  mutiny  broke  out,  I  think,  in  July,  and 
was  near  becoming  serious.  By  the  formidable  appearance  of  a  column 
of  marine  bayonets,  supported  by  nearly  a  hundred  gallant  officers 
armed,  it  was  not  only  suppressed,  but  twenty  of  the  ringleaders  were 
secured,  and  sent  home  in  the  ship,  ironed,  for  punishment;  but  the 
Government  deemed  it  most  advisable  not  to  punish  them,  as  they  were 
right,  and  the  commander  was  wrong.  It  appeared  that  the  period 
for  which  the  men  had  engaged  had  expired.  This  practice  of  keeping 


the  ships  of  war  absent  beyond  the  period  for  which  their  crews  arc 
engaged,  is  becoming  a  fruitful  source  for  mutiny.  Commanders,  anx- 
ious to  execute  all  the  objects  of  the  Government  in  sending  them 
abroad,  lose  sight  of  their  obligations  to  obey  the  law,  thereby  render- 
ing themselves  liable  to  encounter  death  at  sea,  in  the  shape  of  mutiny, 
and  civil  prosecutions  on  shore,  for  detaining  their  men  beyond  the 
period  for  which  they  engaged.  Their  paramount  duty  is  to  return  to 
the  United  States,  and  discharge  their  crews,  after  they  have  faithfully 
performed  their  part  of  the  contract.  The  Government  should  as  faith- 
fully perform  theirs,  by  returning  them  to  their  country  and  homes,  and 
not  suffering  them  to  be  discharged  pennylessin  distant  seas,  to  encoun- 
ter starvation,  or  to  beg,  or  become  pirates. 

Very  many  persons  are  under  the  impression  that  most  of  the  mutinies 
in  the  British  navy  originate  in  their  practice  of  impressment ;  but  I 
believe  there  is  scarcely  an  instance  of  the  kind  on  record.  Their  mu- 
tinies originate  from  oppression,  and  not  impressment.  I  also  believe 
there  is  no  case  where  the  marines,  as  a  body,  participated  in  the  mu- 
tiny of  the  seamen.  If  we  refer  to  the  very  serious  mutiny  of  the  Chan- 
nel fleet  at  the  Nore,  in  1797,  I  think  we  will  find  (I  speak  from  impres- 
sions on  the  memory  only)  that  nothing  was  stated  by  the  mutineers  as 
a  grievance  for  redress  on  the  part  of  the  impressed  men,  except  that 
sentence  of  death  for  desertion,  committed  by  an  impressed  man,  was 
urged  on  the  King  as  too  severe  a  punishment  ;  and  those  who  volun- 
teered for  the  service,  and  took  the  bounty,  insisted  on  being  discharged 
every  seven  years.  About  the  same  period,  a  bloody  mutiny  took  place 
on  board  the  British  frigate,  the  Hermione,  on  the  West  India  station. 
This  mutiny  originated  in  the  oppression  and  tyranny  of  the  commander 
on  that  occasion.  All  the  officers  (except  a  master's  mate)  encountered 
death.  Captain  Pigot,  the  commander  of  that  ship,  was  of  such  a 
tyrannical  and  intemperate  disposition,  as  to  wholly  disqualify  him  for 
the  command  of  men.  If  mutinies  have  not  more  frequently  occurred 
in  our  ships  of  war,  it  has  been  owing  to  the  mildness  of  our  command- 
ers, the  good  feelings  of  the  seamen  towards  their  officers,  and  the  sup- 
port afforded  the  latter  by  a  steady  column  of  bayonets.  There  are 
some  who  will  say  that  marines  are  useless  except  for  idle  parade. 
But  even  form  and  parade,  in  a  military  system,  is  perhaps  more  essen- 
tial, in  aid  of  the  preservation  of  discipline  amongst  republican  citizens,, 
than  with  the  subjects  of  a  king. 

The  whole  business  of  life  may  be  considered  as  little  more  than  bent, 
so  far  as  the  desire  of  distinction  goes,  towards  appearances.  Men  are 
at  best  but  grown  up  children,  "  pleased  with  a  rattle,  tickled  with  a 
straw."  Take  from  military  service  its  distinguishing  trappings,  the 
possible  "  pomp  and  circumstance  of  war,"  the  probable  vote  of  thanks 
of  the  National  Legislature,  and  what  will  be  then  left  them  to  aid  their 
patriotism,  in  calling  for  the  whole  energies  of  the  man,  to  support  them 


41 

In  the  perils  of  the  battle  and  the  ocean,  the  deprivations  of  their  homes 
and  its  comforts? 

If  we  refer  to  the  past  services  of  the  marine  corps,  they  will  be 
found  to  be  among  the  most  distinguished.  Whether  you  take  them  at 
the  charge  of  the  bayonet,  in  unison  with  the  seamen  wielding  the  sa- 
bre and  the  pike,  boarding  the  gun-boats  off  Tripoli,  in  their  various 
actions  on  the  ocean,  or  in  their  efforts  with  the  seamen  under  Barney 
in  resisting  the  advance  of  the  British  columns  to  your  capital,  you  will 
find  they  have  ever  sustained  a  high  reputation  for  discipline,  conduct, 
and  courage.  Under  these  circumstances,  I  am  decidedly  of  opinion 
that  the  marines  cannot  be  beneficially  dispensed  with  in  our  national 
ships  of  war. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  with  great  respect,  sir, 

Your  most  obedient  servant, 

CHARLES  STEWART. 

The  Hon.  JOHN  BRANCH,  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

In  the  month  of  August,  1830,  he  was  appointed  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Navy  Commissioners,  at  Washington,  where  he  remained  un- 
til August,  1833;  he  then  retired  to  his  farm,  in  New  Jersey.  In  the 
month  of  July,  1836,  he  received  the  following  letter  of  instructions 
from  the  Navy  Department,  associating  with  him  those  distinguished 
officers,  Commodores  Dallas  and  Bolton,  Commanders  of  the  West  In- 
dian squadron,  and  of  the  Pensacola  Navy  Yard. 

Navy  Department,  July  8, 1836. 

To  Commodores  Charles  Stewart,  Alexr.  J.  Dallas,  and   JV.    C* 

Bolton. 

GENTLEMEN  : — Under  the  act  of  the  third  of  March,  1827,  the  Pre- 
sident of  the  United  States  was  authorised  to  cause  the  Navy  Yards  of 
the  United  States  to  be  thoroughly  examined,  and  plans  to  be  prepared 
and  sanctioned  by  him,  for  the  improvement  of  the  same,  and  the  pre- 
servation of  the  public  property  therein;  from  which  plans  no  deviation 
is  to  be  made  but  by  his  especial  order.  This  has  been  done  with  all, 
except  the  Navy  Yards  at  Pensacola  and  New  York.  You  are  hereby 
constituted  a  Board  of  Commissioners  to  make  the  examination,  and 
prepare  the  plan  agreeably  to  that  act  for  the  Navy  Yard  at  Pensaco- 
la. Mr.  William  P.  Sanger  will  report  to  you,  and  will  act  under  your 
direction.  His  assistance  as  an  engineer,  will  be  serviceable  in  the 
discharge  of  the  duty  assigned  to  you. 

The  object  of  the  law  referred  to,  is  to  make  such  an  arrangement 
of  the  improvements  and  buildings  at  the  yards,  and  such  plans  for  fu- 
ture expenditures  upon  them,  as  shall  best  promote  economy,  and  best 
fit  them  for  the  public  service,  and  the  transaction  of  the  public  busi- 
ness, and  save  the  necessity  of  charges  hereafter,  by  which  the  public 
money  would  be  uselessly  expended.  The  plan  to  be  adopted  is  de- 
signed to  be  permanent,  and  to  embrace  all  the  buildings  and  improve- 
fi 


42 

ments  which  will  at  any  future  time  be  necessary  at  the  Pensacola 
Navy  Yard. 

For  the  discharge  of  your  duty,  therefore,  it  will  be  indispensable  to 
look  to  the  probable  extension  of  this  yard  for  future  service.  An  en- 
larged view  of  all  the  matters  connected  with  it  as  a  dock  yard  and  as 
a  building  and  repairing  establishment  will  be  required,  to  enable  you 
to  make  such  a  plan  as  will  be  permanently  useful.  To  officers  so  ex- 
perienced and  intelligent,  it  is  not  necessary  to  enumerate  the  buildings 
and  improvements  which  will  be  hereafter  called  for  by  the  service. 

You  will  be  careful  to  provide  for  them  all,  and  upon  an  accurate 
map  of  the  yard,  you  will  designate  the  position  in  which  every  build- 
ing and  every  improvement  is  to  be  placed.  In  your  recommendation 
for  these  improvements,  you  will,  of  course,  consider  the  means  of  ap- 
proach by  water,  as  well  as  the  location  on  the  land. 
I  am,  respectfully,  gentlemen, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

M.  DICKERSOW. 

In  compliance  with  the  foregoing  instructions,  Commodore  Stewart 
proceeded  to  Pensacola,  in  the  United  States  sloop  of  war,  Natchez, 
Captain  Mervine.  The  following  joint  report  was  made  from  Pensacola. 

Pensacola,  September  27, 1836. 

SIR: — We  have  the  honor  to  submit  to  you,  (as  commissioners  to 
whom  was  assigned  the  planning  of  the  Navy  Yard  at  this  place,)  in 
compliance  with  your  instructions  of  July  the  eighth,  a  plan  of  the  Na- 
vy Yard,  with  all  the  docks,  slips,  and  buildings,  which,  in  all  proba- 
bility, will  in  future  be  required  for  the  public  service,  and  which  ap- 
pears to  us  necessary,  at  a  station  of  such  high  national  importance  as 
this  seems  to  the  commissioners  to  be. 

The  commissioners  have  been  obliged  to  keep  in  view  some  peculiari- 
ties attending  this  extensive  bay,  such  as  its  almost  constant  and  strong 
ebb-tides,  the  destructive  effects  of  the  marine  worm,  and  the  invaria- 
ble sandy  nature  of  the  soil. 

Under  the  influence  of  these  considerations,  they  deemed  it  essential, 
and  therefore  projected  on  the  plan,  a  sea  wall,  sufficient  to  afford  all 
the  wharfing  accommodation  for  ships  in  ordinary,  repairing,  masting, 
or  fitting  for  service,  as  well  as  all  transports  employed  in  bringing  the 
necessary  supplies  for  the  establishment  at  any  future  time. 

About  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  the  rear  of  the  Navy  Yard  there  exists 
a  constant  fresh-water  lake,  adequate  to  the  supply,  at  all  times,  of  wa- 
ter for  the  wet  dock  which  this  sea  wall  will  form,  to  furnish  all  that 
may  be  required  in  the  Navy  Yard  in  case  of  fire,  and  sufficient  for 
•watering  the  ships  of  war.  Thus  the  fresh  water  in  the  wet  dock  will 
prevent  the  effect  of  worms  on  the  dry  dock  gates,  as  well  as  all  wood- 
en structures  in  its  vicinity;  it  will  also  furnish  the  means  of  destroying 
the  living  principle  in  grass,  barnacles,  and  other  fouling  substances  of 
ships'  bottoms,  and  act  as  a  cleanser  to  their  copper  on  coming  from  sea, 


43 

as  well  as  to  preserve  their  bottoms  from  fouling  while  repairing,  fitting, 
or  lying  in  ordinary  at  the  Navy  Yard. 

The  rigging  loft  is  placed  near  the  rope-walk  for  convenience  sake, 
on  part  of  the  sea  wall  wharf,  and  under  it  we  contemplate  having  suf- 
ficient store  room  for  cables  and  cordage,  handy  to  be  put  on  board  ships 
in  its  neighborhood,  or  boats  to  convey  to  ships  elsewhere,  with  as  little 
manual  labor  as  possible.  The  sail-loft  is  also  conveniently  placed  on 
the  sea  wall  wharf  with  the  same  view ;  and  underneath  store  room 
will  be  found  sufficient  for  all  the  pitch,  tar,  turpentine,  rosin,  and  oil, 
where  they  will  be  convenient  to  water  carriage,  as  well  as  for  extin 
guishing  those  combustible  articles  should  they  accidentally  take  fire. 
On  the  opposite  angle  of  the  sea  wall  we  have  placed  the  building  slips, 
boat  and  mast  houses,  with  the  heavy  blacksmithery,  anchor,  and  tank 
foundries,  castings,  and  plumberies,  from  whence  all  those  heavy  ap- 
purtenances for  ships  of  war  can  be  conveniently  boated  and  transport- 
ed; and  with  a  view  to  concentrate  the  necessary  working  fires  as  much 
as  possible,  we  have  located  the  cooper-shop,  bake-house,  and  cook- 
house in  the  vicinity,  with  the  accommodations  for  negro  laborers,  near 
the  entrance  gate,  under  the  eye  of  the  marine  guard  there  stationed. 

The  commissioners,  in  obedience  to  the  farther  instructions  of  the 
department,  of  August  tenth,  made  a  reconnoisance  of  the  grounds 
contiguous  to  the  Navy  Yard  for  a  site  for  the  marine  barracks;  and 
they  find  the  ground  to  the  right  too  unequal  in  its  surface,  and  too 
many  water-pools  on  and  about  it,  to  answer  that  purpose.  On  the  left, 
the  ground  is  more  favorable,  and  would  present  an  eligible  position 
stretching  along  the  front  of  the  bay,  open  and  airy,  with  a  pleasant 
water  view;  but  here  the  ground  is,  in  part,  occupied  with  settlements 
under  lease  from  the  Government,  which  might  not  be  conveniently  or 
easily  got  rid  of;  in  which  case,  there  only  remains  the  rear  of  the  Na- 
vy Yard  about  five  hundred  feet  in  depth,  with  the  same  extent  as  the 
Navy  Yard;  which  would  afford  ample  room  to  erect  all  the  necessary 
buildings,  accommodations,  gardens,  and  parade  ground,  that  may  at 
any  time  be  found  necessary. 

The  commissioners,  in  compliance  with  your  letter  of  August  twen- 
tieth, have  examined  the  two  several  places  pointed  out  as  eligible  sites 
for  a  Navy  Yard  within  this  bay:  that  is  to  say,  the  Navy  Cove,  oppo- 
site the  town  of  Pensacola,  and  a  place  above  the  town  called  Five  Fa- 
thom Hole.  The  former,  (Navy  Cove,)  ihe  commissioners  are  of  opin- 
ion would  not  answer  the  purpose  at  all,  and  is  liable  to  very  many  ob- 
jections; its  location  is  beyond  the  reach  of  any  immediate  protection 
from  the  fortifications  or  their  garrisons,  for  any  small  military  expedi- 
tion would  be  able  to  surprise  it  through  the  Santa  Rosa  sound;  it  is 
shut  in  from  the  advantages  of  the  sea  breezes,  and,  consequently,  is 
excessively  hot  for  laborers  and  mechanics;  and,  indeed,  were  those  dis- 
advantages removed,  the  extent  of  the  flats  is  too  great  to  be  overcome 
without  very  heavy  expenditures.  With  respect  to  the  latter,  (Five 


44 

Fathom  Hole,)  the  commissioners  cannot  discover  any  advantages  over 
the  present  location  to  induce  their  recommending  a  change;  ships 
there  placed  would  be  much  exposed  to  the  great  range  of  easterly 
winds,  which  are  the  strongest  that  blow  in  this  quarter;  it  is,  also,  at 
the  head  of  the  deep  water  in  the  bay,  and  will  be  that  portion  of  it 
most  likely  to  fill  up  and  shallow  hereafter,  when  the  surrounding 
country  becomes  cleared,  cultivated,  and  liable  to  wash  from  the  heavy 
rains  of  the  summer  season. 

All  of  which  is  most  respectfully  submitted, 

By  your  obedient  servants, 

CHARLES  STEWART> 
A.  J.  DALLAS, 

W.  C.  BOLTON, 

Commissioners* 
To  Hon.  Mahlon  Dickerson, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Washington. 

During  the  stay  of  the  Commodore  at  Pensacola,  he  made  extensive 
notes,  and  observations,  and  shortly  after  his  return  to  Philadelphia,  he 
addressed  the  following  letter  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

Philadelphia,  November  20, 1836. 

SIR: — In  your  instructions  directed  to  me  of  the  eighth  of  July  last, 
relative  to  the  plan  for  the  construction  of  the  navy  yard  at  Pensacola, 
you  direct  that  "  All  the  buildings  and  improvements  should  be  com- 
prised in  the  plan  which  at  any  future  time  would  be  necessary  at  that 
yard;"  and  that  "an  enlarged  view  should  be  taken  of  all  the  matters 
connected  with  it  as  a  dock  yard,  or  a  building  and  repairing  establish- 
ment." Having  completed  a  plan  for  the  improvements  of  the  yard, 
and  submitted  it  to  you,  I  beg  leave  now  to  submit  to  you,  also,  some 
ideas  which  occurred  to  me  in  taking  that  enlarged  view  of  this  esta- 
blishment which  your  instructions  seem  to  aim  at. 

In  studying  the  position  of  Pensacola,  with  reference  not  only  to  our 
own  adjacent  coast,  and  the  great  outlet  of  the  Mississippi  which  it  is 
so  favorably  placed  to  protect,  but  also  to  the  neighboring  countries  of 
Mexico  and  the  islands  of  Cuba,  Jamaica,  and  St.  Domingo,  which  are 
all  liable  at  some  future  period  to  be  occupied  by  nations  at  enmity  with 
the  United  States,  the  national  importance  of  the  place  could  not  but 
force  itself  on  my  mind,  and  excite  some  surprise  that  it  had  not  hitherto 
attracted  more  the  attention  of  the  Government.  In  evidence  how  lit- 
tle has  as  yet  been  done  there,  I  may  mention  the  fact,  that  the  revenue 
schooner  Dexter  had  to  resort  to  Charleston  to  get  her  sides  caulked, 
and  a  few  other  trifling  repairs  which  she  needed.  Yet,  at  the  same 
time  that  the  great  section  of  our  country,  of  which  Pensacola  must 
hereafter  become  the  naval  depot,  has  been  thus  overlooked,  we  find 
large  appropriations  applied  to  the  construction  of  navy  yards  in  the 
middle  and  eastern  states.  Casual  observers  unacquainted  with  the 


45 

lukewarmness  with  which  the  development  of  our  naval  energies  has 
been  prosecuted,  might  naturally  conclude  that  this  disparity  had  its 
origin  in  an  indifference  to  our  true  policy,  or  in  sectional  selfishness;  or 
how  else  could  they  account  for  the  extraordinary  fact,  that  our  whole 
seaboard  from  Norfolk  to  the  Sabine,  an  extent  of  nearly  two  thousand 
miles,  does  not  afford  the  means  of  even  repairing  a  sloop  of  war;  whilst 
to  the  north  and  east,  in  less  than  one  thousand  miles  of  coast,  the 
means  not  only  for  repairs,  but  for  construction,  are  so  singularly  multi- 
plied, that  in  the  Chesapeake  waters  we  have  two — the  navy  yards  at 
Norfolk  and  Washington;  and  in  the  bay  of  Massachusetts,  two  others 
—one  at  Portsmouth  and  one  at  Boston.  There  is  great  deficiency  in 
the  southern  section  of  our  country,  as  respects  preparation  for  naval 
defence,  where  it  may  be  most  needed,  to  protect  the  rich  and  exube- 
rant region  which  has  its  outlet  in  the  straits  of  Florida.  In  the  event 
of  war,  every  means  would  be  wanting  to  afford  a  permanent  protec- 
tion for  its  great  and  valuable  products  issuing  forth  through  so  many 
arteries,  and  now  rendering  all  Europe  tributary  to  us,  and  promoting 
the  prosperity  not  only  of  the  states  which  produce  them,  but  at  the 
same  time  the  wealth,  power,  and  aggrandizement  of  our  whole  Union. 
Through  the  Florida  stream  flow  all  the  commerce  and  valuable  pro- 
ductions of  South  Carolina,  Georgia,  Florida,  Alabama,  Kentucky,  Ten- 
nessee, Mississippi,  Louisiana,  Missouri,  Indiana,  and  Illinois.  All  the 
produce  of  these  various  states,  except  that  of  South  Carolina  and 
Georgia,  must  pass  through  the  straits  of  Cape  Florida,  the  only  prac- 
ticable outlet  of  the  great  Gulf  of  Mexico,  which  is  thus  constituted 
for  egress,  a  close  sea,  as  much  so  as  the  Mediterranean,  owing  to  the 
northeast  trade  wind  which  prevails  to  the  south,  and  the  island  of  Cuba 
and  the  Bahamas  closing  it  on  the  east. 

All  the  states  enumerated  are  highly  interested  in  the  establishment 
of  an  efficient  naval  depot  within  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  embracing  all 
the  elements  necessary  for  the  repairs,  construction,  and  equipment  of 
ships  of  war,  and  the  gradual  acclimating  of  troops  for  southern  ser- 
vice. 

By  means  of  the  strong  current  of  the  Gulf  Stream,  naval  protec- 
tion could  be  afforded  to  Georgia  and  South  Carolina,  with  as  much 
facility  and  despatch  from  Pensacola  as  from  any  of  our  northern  na- 
val stations;  and,  on  the  contrary,  a  naval  force  rendezvousing  at  Ports- 
mouth, Boston,  New  York,  or  Norfolk,  would  be  as  unavailable  for  our 
coast  and  commerce  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  as  a  naval  force  at  Brest 
or  Cherbourg  would  be  for  the  protection  of  the  south  of  France  and 
her  commerce  in  the  Mediterranean.  Indeed,  the  ships  of  our  northern 
ports  would  be  still  less  available  than  the  French  ships  under  those  cir- 
cumstances; for,  owing  to  the  circuitous  navigation  round  the  south  of 
Cuba,  which  the  strong  currents  of  the  Gulf  of  Florida  render  necessary, 
it  would  take  from  thirty  to  fifty  days  for  a  fleet  to  reach  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico  from  any  port  on  our  north  Atlantic  coast.  The  Natchez 


46 

sloop  of  war,  in  which  I  took  my  passage  in  the  fulfilment  of  the  orders 
of  the  eighth  of  July  last,  took  thirty-four  days  to  get  from  New  York 
to  Pensacola;  and  the  year  preceding,  the  same  ship  was  fifty-six  days 
in  conveying  Commodore  Dallas  from  New  York  to  the  same  place. 

France  situated  precisely,  with  respect  to  the  Mediterranean,  as  the 
United  States  are  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  found  it  necessary  to  establish 
her  great  naval  depot  at  Toulon;  and  Spain,  with  her  establishment  at 
Ferrol,  and  another  at  Cadiz,  immediately  by  the  straits  of  Gibraltar, 
could  not  protect  her  Mediterranean  commerce,  without  another  for- 
midable establishment  at  Carthagena.  Thus  must  it  be  with  the  Uni- 
ted States.  The  Gulf  of  Mexico  is  our  Mediterranean,  and  Pensaco- 
la will  become  our  Toulon;  also,  at  no  distant  period,  some  port  on  the 
coast  of  South  Carolina  or  Georgia  must  furnish  the  same  facilities  as 
Cadiz,  for  the  protection  of  the  exterior  mouth  of  the  straits  of  Flor- 
ida. 

However  inclined  some  may  be  to  pass  over  this  important  question, 
it  does  appear  to  me,  that  if  our  Government  be  true  to  the  purposes 
of  its  institution,  they  will  accord  ample  protection  to  every  section  of 
our  Union.  The  period  for  according  this  protection  may  be  delayed, 
to  the  injury  of  our  interests,  and  the  dishonor  of  our  national  charac- 
ter; but  it  cannot  be  always  avoided,  for,  in  some  future  maritime  war 
— such  as,  sooner  or  later,  must  take  place,  and  which  we  may  be  en- 
gaged in — the  productions  of  that  vast  empire,  which  has  for  its  only 
outlet  the  straits  of  Florida,  will  be  effectually  locked  up,  to  the  fatal 
injury  of  the  country,  or  possibly  to  the  dissolution  of  the  Union. 

It  is  not  probable  that  an  enemy  will  hereafter  ever  attempt  to  make 
permanent  conquest  of  any  part  of  our  territory;  yet  past  experience 
has  shown  us  with  what  facility,  an  inconsiderable  military  force,  sus- 
tained by  a  naval  one,  could  agitate  our  whole  seaboard,  harass  the 
militia,  burn  our  towns  and  plantations,  and  arrest  entirely  our  com- 
merce and  coasting  trade,  for  the  want  of  adequate  means  of  defence, 
proportioned  to  the  resources  and  real  power  of  our  country.  At  a 
later  period,  we  have  seen  with  what  facility  a  handful  of  pirates,  with- 
out territorial  protection,  skulking  into  and  out  of  the  harbors  of  the 
neighboring  islands,  could  pillage  and  destroy  our  vessels  trading  to  the 
Carribean  and  Mexican  seas,  and  sacrifice  the  lives  of  our  citizens 
with  relentless  barbarity. 

Foreign  powers,  with  whom  we  are  liable,  from  conflicting  interests, 
to  be  brought  into  collision,  border  on  our  territory,  and  occupy  a  chain 
of  formidable  posts,  stretching  along  and  overlooking  our  whole  southern 
coast — such  as  Jamaica,  Mexico,  Cuba,  Burmudas  and  the  Bahamas; 
some  of  which  are  maintained  at  great  expense,  and  might  be  the  ren- 
dezvous for  future  means  of  annoyance  and  attack  of  our  territory  and 
commerce. 

The  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  Straits  of  Florida,  constituting  as  they  do 
the  outlet  of  so  many  productions  of  a  rich  and  valuable  nature,  thus 


47 

surrounded  by  various  nations,  bid  fair  to  be  the  scenes  of  much  future 
contention.  Our  own  interests  in  that  quarter  are  of  immense  and  ra- 
pidly increasing  value,  and  which  being  thus  open  to  assault,  it  appears 
to  me  it  would  be  a  wise  policy  in  our  Government  to  provide  the 
arsenals  and  establishments  for  ships  of  war  necessary  to  the  protec- 
tion of  our  vast  interests  in  that  sea,  and  thus  prevent  its  falling  a  prey 
to  the  rapacious  grasp  of  future  belligerants,  as  well  as  to  avoid  the 
necessity  of  our  ships  of  war  navigating  (perhaps  in  a  crippled  condi- 
tion) a  dangerous  coast  of  such  extent,  to  procure  the  necessary  repairs 
and  refit,  from  the  destruction  of  battle,  the  disasters  of  the  elements, 
and  the  decay  incident  to  our  vessels,  and  subject  to  great  loss  of  time 
in  going  from  and  returning  to  their  stations  at  the  south. 

The  new  principles  of  European  policy  and  reform  in  relation  to 
their  American  colonies,  aided  by  the  fanatics  spread  over  our  own 
country,  exciting  an  insurrectionary  spirit  among  a  numerous  class  of 
our  south-western  population,  together  with  the  cupidity  which  the  rich 
productions  of  that  country  are  calculated  to  create,  seem  to  admonish 
us  not  to  trust  too  far  to  our  own  peaceful  habits  and  passive  disposi- 
tion, but  to  apply  all  the  means  in  the  possession  of  the  Government 
for  the  permanent  defence  of  that  interesting  portion  of  the  Union. 

If  these  impressions  are  just,  it  appears  to  me  of  the  greatest  impor- 
tance that  the  construction  of  the  dock  and  navy  yard  at  Pensacola, 
should  be  pushed  on  with  all  possible  despatch;  and  that  the  navy 
should  obtain  there  every  essential  to  its  efficiency;  and  the  Govern- 
ment and  country  should  find  at  that  place,  on  the  first  emergency,  all 
the  means  of  defence  for  the  coast  and  its  commerce.  The  best  har- 
bor in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  accessible  at  all  seasons  of  the  year,  enjoy- 
ing an  exemption  from  tropical  diseases,  and  a  mild  climate,  nature 
seems  to  have  formed  it  for  the  great  naval  depot  and  rendezvous  for 
our  ships  destined  to  protect  the  Mexican  seas.  This  harbor  admits, 
with  facility  of  ingress  and  egress,  the  largest  sloops  of  war  and  mer- 
chant ships;  but  this  will  not  be  "adequate  to  the  future  wants  of  the 
nation  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  The  deepening  of  the  bar,  or  entrance, 
so  as  to  admit  vessels  of  the  largest  class,  is  essential  to  that  port,  and 
is  an  experiment  well  worth  trying,  Should,  however,  the  experiment 
fail,  a  new  channel  could  be  cut  through  the  island  of  St.  Rosa,  which 
I  should  think,  would  not  be  a  work  of  much  difficulty,  as  the  island  is 
very  narrow,  and  has  deep  water  close  to  the  shore  on  the  sea  side. 

The  abundance  of  the  finest  timber  for  the  construction  and  repair- 
ing of  vessels  of  war,  which  grows  on  the  shore  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico, 
and  immediately  in  the  neighborhood  of  Pensacola,  which  now  has  to 
be  transported  to  the  northern  navy  yards  at  a  great  expense  and  labor, 
added  to  the  facilities  which  the  internal  improvements  in  a  state  of 
progress  in  that  country  will  afford  for  the  transportation  of  every  ma- 
terial for  fleets  of  war,  constitutes  a  strong  reason  for  the  early  estab- 


48 

Hsbment  of  a  school  of  workmen  and  mechanics,  so  essential  to  the 
ends  proposed,  of  meeting  "any  future  wants  at  that  place,"  and  de- 
veloping its  utility  as  a  naval  depot  and  rendezvous  for  the  ships  of 

war. 

Considering  the  exposed  state  of  this  section  of  our  Union  from  the 
causes  before  enumerated,  and  that  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  its  outlet 
(the  Straits  of  Florida,)  is  our  vulnerable  point,  through  which  flows  so 
large  a  portion  of  our  national  wealth,  no  time  ought  to  be  lost  in  ren- 
dering Pensacola  the  key  to,  and  the  defence  of,  the  Mexican  seas. 

I  have  the  honor  to  remain,  very  respectfully,  sir,  your  most  obedient 
servant, 

CHARLES  STEWART. 
To  the  Hon.  MAHLO»  DICKERSOIT, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

On  the  first  of  July,  1837,  Commodore  James  Barren  resigned  the 
command  of  the  Navy  Yard,  at  Philadelphia,  and  Commodore  Stewart 
was  placed  in  command  of  that  establishment. 

By  the  most  strenuous  exertions,  Commodore  Stewart  succeeded  in 
launching  the  line-of-bat tie-ship  Pennsylvania,  on  the  eighteenth  day 
of  July.  This  ship,  not  only  the  largest  in  our  navy,  but  the  most  mag- 
nificent in  point  of  model  and  construction,  was  ordered  by  the  Secre- 
tary of  the  Navy  to  be  removed  from  Philadelphia  to  Norfolk,  to  be 
coppered,  and  Commodore  Stewart  was  appointed  to  equip  and  take 
her  to  that  place  for  the  purpose. 

The  order  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  to  transfer  the  Pennsylvania 
to  another  place  to  be  coppered,  produced  a  deep  and  universal  dissat- 
isfaction among  the  citizens  of  Philadelphia,  and  indeed  of  the  whole 
State. 

Large  and  spirited  public  meetings  were  convened  to  remonstrate 
against  the  measure,  and  to  urge  upon  the  Executive,  the  necessity  of 
having  her  completed  in  the  yard  where  her  keel  was  laid. 

In  this  just  state  pride  of  his  fellow  citizens,  Commodore  Stewart 
warmly  participated;  but  the  determination  of  the  Department  was  ir- 
reversable,  and  he  yielded  with  regret  to  the  fiat  of  the  department, 
which  took  from  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  the  honor  of  giving  the  fin- 
ishing stroke  to  the  noble  ship  that  bears  her  own  name. 

The  want  of  a  dry  dock  at  Philadelphia,  was  the  alleged  ground  of 
justification  for  this  procedure,  and  called  the  immediate  attention  of 
Commodore  Stewart  to  this  important  appendage  of  a  complete  navy 
yard  at  this  city. 

The  commercial  importance  of  Philadelphia,  its  facilities  for  procu- 
ring timbers  and  other  materials  for  building  and  repairing  ships,  and 
its  central  location,  all  combined  to  force  on  his  mind  the  propriety  of 
recommending  the  establishment  of  a  dry  dock,  and  enlisted  the  utmost 


49 

energies  of  almost  all  the  public  men  and  people  of  Pennsylvania  in 
support  of  the  measure. 

As  the  Commodore  enters  into  the  matter  with  his  characteristic 
vigor,  it  is  hoped  that  in  a  short  time  this  salutary  object  will  be  attain- 
ed, and  all  agree  that  it  will  materially  contribute  to  the  benefit  of  the 
many  industrious  mechanics  and  laborers  who  will  thus  find  employ- 
ment, and  to  the  advancement  of  the  commercial  interests  and  prosperi- 
ty of  his  native  city,  as  well  as  to  the  naval  resources  and  strength  of 
the  country. 

Should  this  undertaking  prove  successful,  it  will  stand  a  monument, 
as  enduring  as  the  "right  angled  city"  itself,  commemorative  of  the  pub- 
lic spirit  and  devotion  to  the  navy,  which  have  ever  distinguished  his 
career. 

Commodore  Stewart  is  about  five  feet  nine  inches  in  height,  erect 
and  well  proportioned,  of  a  dignified  and  engaging  presence,  and  pos- 
sessed of  great  constitutional  powers  to  endure  hardships  and  privations 
of  all  kinds.  Although  fifty-nine  years  of  age,  he  is  still  as  active  as  if  he 
was  but  in  the  prime  of  life.  His  complexion  is  fair,  like  that  of  Mr.  Jef- 
ferson, but  bears  the  weather  beaten  marks  of  naval  service.  His  hair 
is  of  a  chesnut  color;  his  eyes  blue,  large,  penetrating,  and  intelligent. 
The  cast  of  his  countenance  is  Roman,  bold,  strong,  and  commanding, 
and  his  head  finely  formed.  It  has  been  pronounced  by  a  phrenologist, 
the  head  of  a  man  of  great  vigor  and  mind,  high  sense  of  justice,  and 
inflexible  resolution  of  purpose.  It  is  well  known  that  his  character 
corresponds  perfectly  with  these  indications. 

His  mind  is  acute  and  powerful,  grasping  the  greatest  or  smallest 
subjects  with  the  intuitive  mastery  of  genius.  He  not  only  fully  under- 
stands his  profession  as  a  naval  commander,  but  a  11  the  various  interests 
of  commerce,  the  foreign  and  domestic  policy  of  his  country,  the  prin- 
ciples of  government,  and  the  "  law  of  nations,"  are  as  familiar  to  him  as 
"  household  words." 

Let  any  person  consult  his  numerous  official  letters  and  reports,  em- 
bracing a  wide  range  of  subjects;  or  sit  down  and  converse  with  him 
upon  the  political  and  social  relations  of  our  country,  its  internal  resour- 
ces, and  the  true  policy  of  developing  them,  and  he  will  be  astonished 
at  the  extent  and  accuracy  of  his  information.  Often  has  the  question 
been  asked,  how  did  this  man,  amidst  the  rapid  events  of  a  life  spent  in 
the  active  service  of  his  country,  acquire  so  much  useful  knowledge 
beyond  the  apparent  line  of  his  profession?  The  answer  is, — Commo- 
dore Stewart  has  always  been  an  observer,  a  reader,  and  a  thinker. — 
Nothing  has  escaped  his  vigilant  attention.  He  has  devoted  himself  to 
the  service  of  his  country,  and  he  holds  that  whoever  would  serve  his 
country  well,  should  understand  its  government,  its  laws,  and  its 
interests,  in  order  to  uphold,  represent,  and  sustain  them. 

His  control  over  his  passions  is  truly  surprising,  and  under  the  most 
irritating  circumstances,  his  oldest  seamen  have  never  yet  seen  a  ray  of 
7 


50 

nnger  flash  from  his  eye.  His  kindness,  benevolence,  and  humanity  are 
proverbial  amongst  those  who  know  him,  but  his  sense  of  justice  and  re* 
quisitions  of  duty  are  as  unbending  as  fate. 

That  this  is  not  the  strained  language  of  panegyric,  recur  to  the 
account,  in  the  preceding  sketch,  of  his  noble  rescue  of  the  women  and 
children  from  a  watery  grave,  for  proof  of  his  humanity.  Recur  to  his 
invention  of  our  cannon  sights,  an  event  which  added  so  much  to  our 
superiority  in  gunnery,  for  proof  of  his  mechanical  genius.  Recur  to 
his  able  and  masterly  letter  to  General  Sucre,  among  many  others,  the 
principles  of  which  have  now  become  the  guide  and  rule  of  our  govern- 
ment, on  the  subject  of  blockades,  for  a  proof  of  his  knowledge  of  the 
Law  of  Nations.  Recur  to  the  magnanimous  stand  taken  by  him  in 
conjunction  with  Commodore  Bainbridge,  on  the  employment  of  the 
navy  at  the  outset  of  the  war,  for  proof  of  his  chivalric  patriotism ;  to 
which  circumstances  alone  are  justly  attributable — according  to  the 
Secretary  of  the  Navy— our  glorious  victories  on  the  ocean,  victories 
which  covered  the  flag  of  the  nation  with  imperishable  honor,  and 
inspired  the  drooping  hearts  of  our  countrymen  with  that  confidence 
and  valor  which  enabled  them  to  vanquish  the  foe,  wherever  they  met 
him  on  sea  or  land.  Recur  for  proof  of  his  skill  and  bravery  to  the 
many  actions  in  which  he  fought  and  commanded,  and  especially  to  his 
victory  over  the  Cyane  and  Levant,  a  victory  unprecedented  in  naval 
history,  by  which  he  reduced  to  practice  his  own  prior  theory,  that  one 
large  ship  could  capture  two  ships  of  combined  superior  force.* 

Recur  to  his  numerous  reports  to  the  Navy  Department,  and  to  the 
President  of  the  United  States,  at  different  periods,  for  proof  of  his  inti- 
mate and  comprehensive  acquaintance  with  the  domestic  policy  and 
interest  of  his  country ;  and,  if  farther  proof  be  needed  of  his  ability  and 
patriotism  in  the  service  of  his  country,  every  President,  from  Mr.  Jef- 
ferson down  to  Mr.  Van  Buren,  has  conferred  upon  him  his  emphatic 
approbation,  and  some  testimony  to  his  satisfactory  discharge  of  every 
duty. 

Such  is  a  brief  outline  of  the  character  of  Commodore  Stewart,  a  son 
of  whom  Pennsylvania,  as  well  as  the  entire  Union,  has  just  reason  to 
be  proud.  His  counsels  and  his  services  have  contributed  so  much  to 
the  glory  of  the  Navy,  thai  they  must  be  gratefully  remembered,  as  long 
as  the  star  spangled  banner  affords  protection  against  foreign  aggression 
to  those  over  whom  it  floats,  and  is  honored  and  respected  throughout 
the  world. 

Long  may  he  live  to  serve  his  country,  and  to  behold  the  navy,  with 
which  he  has  been  so  long  and  so  honorably  associated,  hoist  her  flag  in 
every  breeze,  and  protect  her  commerce  and  her  rights  on  every  sea. 

*  See  his  Letter,  twelfth  of  November,  1812,  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 


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